William R. Kenan, Jr.

William Rand Kenan Jr. (April 30, 1872 – July 28, 1965) was an American chemist, engineer, manufacturer, dairy farmer, and philanthropist.

Early life William Rand Kenan Jr. was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, on April 30, 1872, He was a brother of Sarah Graham Kenan and a grandson of Owen Rand Kenan. Kenan attended Horner Military Academy and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1894 where was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon.

Career He started his career by establishing plants for acetylene production in the United States, Australia, and Germany. It houses the Kenan Institute for the Study of Private Enterprise as well as the William R. Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust and the William R. Kenan Jr. Fund. More than eighty-five endowed professorships at colleges and universities in the United States are named for him. One of the professors sponsored by the trust is controversial UNC virologist Ralph Baric.

Another Kenan Center is located in Lockport, New York. The Lockport area also benefited significantly from Kenan's philanthropy.

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