Oral history interview with Carroll A. Hochwalt
- 1985-Jul-12
Oral history interview with Carroll A. Hochwalt
- 1985-Jul-12
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.Carroll A. Hochwalt begins with his early years in Dayton, Ohio, including his student days at the University of Dayton. This is followed by his work with Charles Kettering and Thomas Midgley, Jr., at Dayton Metal Products, where Hochwalt was a significant contributor to the development of lead tetraethyl and other antiknock compounds. In the central portion of the interview Hochwalt focuses on the Hochwalt and Thomas Laboratories, its development into a large consulting research operation, the clients it served, and the products it developed. The interview concludes with Hochwalt's association with the Monsanto Company and his role in the company's research management.
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About the Interviewers
Jeffrey L. Sturchio is president and CEO of the Global Health Council. Previously he served as vice president of corporate responsibility at Merck & Co., president of the Merck Company Foundation, and chairman of the U.S. Corporate Council on Africa. Sturchio is currently a visiting scholar at the Institute for Applied Economics and the Study of Business Enterprise at Johns Hopkins University and a member of the Global Agenda Council on the Healthy Next Generation of the World Economic Forum. He received an AB in history from Princeton University and a PhD in the history and sociology of science from the University of Pennsylvania.
Arnold Thackray founded the Chemical Heritage Foundation and served the organization as president for 25 years. He is currently CHF’s chancellor. Thackray received MA and PhD degrees in history of science from Cambridge University. He has held appointments at Cambridge, Oxford University, and Harvard University, the Institute for Advanced Study, the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 1983 Thackray received the Dexter Award from the American Chemical Society for outstanding contributions to the history of chemistry. He served for more than a quarter century on the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was the founding chairman of the Department of History and Sociology of Science and is currently the Joseph Priestley Professor Emeritus.
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| Oral history number | 0024 |
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Interviewee biographical information
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Education
| Year | Institution | Degree | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1922 | University of Dayton | BChE | |
| 1935 | University of Dayton | DSc |
Professional Experience
Dayton Metal Products Company
- 1918 to 1920 Laboratory Assistant
General Motors Corporation
- 1920 to 1924 Research Chemist
Ethyl Corporation
- 1924 to 1925 Production Manager
Thomas and Hochwalt Laboratories
- 1926 to 1936 Vice President
Monsanto Company
- 1936 to 1945 Associate Director, Central Research Department
- 1945 to 1948 Director, Central Research Department
- 1947 to 1964 Vice President of Research, Development, and Engineering
- 1948 to 1950 Coordinator, Research Developments and Patents
Chemstrand Corporation
- 1949 to 1950 President
St. Louis Research Council
- 1964 to 1967 Director
- 1967 to 1971 Vice Chairman of the Board
St. Louis Regional Industrial Development Corporation
- 1965 to 1966 President
St. Louis Regional Commerce & Growth Association
- 1971 to 1973 Director
Honors
| Year(s) | Award |
|---|---|
| 1956 | Midwest Award, American Chemical Society, St. Louis Section |
| 1962 | Honorary DSc, Washington University |
| 1963 | Knight of Malta, Pope Paul VI |
| 1964 | Honorary DSc, St. Louis University |
| 1967 | Distinguished Alumnus Award, University of Dayton |
| 1969 | Brotherhood Citation, National Conference of Christians and Jews (St. Louis) |
| 1970 | Cardinal Gibbons Award, Catholic University of America |
| 1971 | Society of Chemical Industry Medal (American Section) |
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The published version of the transcript may diverge from the interview audio due to edits to the transcript made by staff of the Center for Oral History, often at the request of the interviewee, during the transcript review process.