David Hamilton Koch (; May 3, 1940 – August 23, 2019) was an American businessman, philanthropist, political activist, and chemical engineer. He joined the family business Koch Industries. He became president of the subsidiary Koch Engineering in 1979. He became a co-owner of Koch Industries, with older brother Charles, in 1983. He was an executive vice president.
Quick facts Born, Died ...
David H. Koch |
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 Koch in 2015 |
| Born | David Hamilton Koch
(1940-05-03)May 3, 1940
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| Died | August 23, 2019(2019-08-23) (aged 79)
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| Monuments | David H. Koch Theater |
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| Citizenship | American |
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| Education | M.S. in Chemical Engineering |
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| Alma mater | Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S., M.S.) |
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| Occupation | VP of Koch Industries |
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| Known for | Philanthropy to cultural and medical institutions;
Support of libertarian and conservative causes[2] |
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| Political party | Libertarian (before 1984), Republican |
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| Opponent(s) | Ran on Libertarian ticket for Vice President in 1980 election against Carter–Mondale, and Reagan–Bush |
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| Board member of | Aspen Institute, Cato Institute, Reason Foundation, Americans for Prosperity Foundation, WGBH, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Americans for Prosperity, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Ballet Theatre, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Deerfield Academy, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, American Museum of Natural History |
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| Spouse | Julia M. Flesher Koch[3][4] |
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| Children | David Koch Jr.
Mary Julia Koch
John Mark Koch |
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| Parent(s) | Fred Koch
Mary Robinson |
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| Relatives | |
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| Awards | Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters – Cambridge College;
Corporate Citizens Award – Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars[1] |
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On June 5, 2018, the company announced his retirement from the company due to declining health issues.[5]
Koch died at his Southampton, New York home from prostate cancer on August 23, 2019 at the age of 79.[6]
