Richard Kinder
Encyclopedia
Richard Kinder is the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, an energy and pipeline corporation.
in 1944. He received a B.A. in 1966 and a J.D. in 1968, both from the University of Missouri
. In college, he was a member of the Sigma Nu
fraternity
.
He started his career as a lawyer and real-estate investor in Houston, Texas. After he filed for bankruptcy, he joined the Enron Corporation. He has been friends with its founder, Kenneth Lay, in college. From 1990 to December 1996, he served as its President and COO. In 1996, he left Enron and started a new pipeline company with William V. Morgan, another friend from college. They purchased Enron Liquids Pipeline for $40 million. They also merged with KN Energy. From 1994 to 2004, he was a Board member of Baker Hughes
.
He serves on the Boards of Directors of Transocean
, Waste Management, Inc
. He is also Chairman of the Board of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America and the Santa Fe Pacific Pipeline, and Vice Chairman and Director of the National Petroleum Council
.
He is a life trustee of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and a national Board member of the Smithsonian Institution
. He has also donated $15 million to Rice University
, and $30 million to enhance park
s around Houston, both through his Kinder Foundation. A Republican
, he campaigned for Bush-Quayle
in 1992, for Bush-Cheney
in 2004, for John McCain
in 2008, and for Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Tom DeLay
.
He is worth US$6.4 billion. As such, he is the 46th richest American citizen. He is twice married, with one child from his first marriage. His divorce was in 1996, the same year he left Enron. He lives in Houston, Texas
.
Biography
Richard Kinder was born in Cape Girardeau, MissouriCape Girardeau, Missouri
Cape Girardeau is a city located in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located approximately southeast of St. Louis and north of Memphis. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 37,941. A college town, it is the home of Southeast Missouri...
in 1944. He received a B.A. in 1966 and a J.D. in 1968, both from the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
. In college, he was a member of the Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu
Sigma Nu is an undergraduate, college fraternity with chapters in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Sigma Nu was founded in 1869 by three cadets at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia...
fraternity
Fraternity
A fraternity is a brotherhood, though the term usually connotes a distinct or formal organization. An organization referred to as a fraternity may be a:*Secret society*Chivalric order*Benefit society*Friendly society*Social club*Trade union...
.
He started his career as a lawyer and real-estate investor in Houston, Texas. After he filed for bankruptcy, he joined the Enron Corporation. He has been friends with its founder, Kenneth Lay, in college. From 1990 to December 1996, he served as its President and COO. In 1996, he left Enron and started a new pipeline company with William V. Morgan, another friend from college. They purchased Enron Liquids Pipeline for $40 million. They also merged with KN Energy. From 1994 to 2004, he was a Board member of Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes Baker Hughes provides the world's oil & gas industry with products and services for drilling, formation evaluation, completion, production and reservoir consulting. Baker Hughes operates in over 90 countries worldwide mainly based in countries with a mature petroleum industry as is...
.
He serves on the Boards of Directors of Transocean
Transocean
Transocean Ltd. is one of the world's largest offshore drilling contractors. The company rents floating mobile drill rigs, along with the equipment and personnel for operations, to oil and gas companies at an average daily rate of US$282,700...
, Waste Management, Inc
Waste Management, Inc
Waste Management, Inc. is a waste management, comprehensive waste, and environmental services company in North America. Founded in 1894, the company is headquartered in Suite 4000 at the First City Tower in Downtown Houston, Texas, in the United States....
. He is also Chairman of the Board of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America and the Santa Fe Pacific Pipeline, and Vice Chairman and Director of the National Petroleum Council
National Petroleum Council
The National Petroleum Council is an American advisory committee representing oil and natural gas industry views to the Secretary of Energy.The council was established in 1946 at the request of President Harry S. Truman to represent industry views on any matters relating to oil and natural gas...
.
He is a life trustee of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and a national Board member of the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
. He has also donated $15 million to Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
, and $30 million to enhance park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
s around Houston, both through his Kinder Foundation. A Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, he campaigned for Bush-Quayle
United States presidential election, 1992
The United States presidential election of 1992 had three major candidates: Incumbent Republican President George Bush; Democratic Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton, and independent Texas businessman Ross Perot....
in 1992, for Bush-Cheney
George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2004
This article is about the presidential campaign of George W. Bush, the former President of the United States and winner of the 2004 Presidential Election. See George W. Bush for a detailed biography and information about his full presidency, and George W. Bush presidential campaign, 2000 for a...
in 2004, for John McCain
John McCain presidential campaign, 2008
John McCain, the senior United States Senator from Arizona, launched his second candidacy for the presidency of the United States in an unsuccessful bid to win the 2008 presidential election. His candidacy, in the works for a number of years, was informally announced on February 28, 2007 during a...
in 2008, and for Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Tom DeLay
Tom DeLay
Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of criminal money laundering charges in...
.
He is worth US$6.4 billion. As such, he is the 46th richest American citizen. He is twice married, with one child from his first marriage. His divorce was in 1996, the same year he left Enron. He lives in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.