Carl Keith

Carl Keith

Carl Donald Keith (May 29, 1920 – November 9, 2008) was a chemist who was inventor of the three-way catalytic converter, which has played a dramatic role in reducing pollution from motor vehicles since their introduction in the mid-1970s. Keith was born on May 29, 1920, in Stewart Creek, West Virginia, to Howard, a steelworker, and Mary Rawson Keith, who worked in a bakery. He received a bachelor's degree from Salem College in North Carolina in 1943, earned a master's degree in chemistry from Indiana University in 1945 and was awarded a doctorate from DePaul University in 1947.From 1943 to 1957, Keith was a chemist at Sinclair Oil. He later was hired by Engelhard Industries.From 1976 until his retirement from Engelhard in 1985, Keith was an executive vice president, president and finally chairman of the company.

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