Mizzou Founder Features: Kinder Morgan

This week we share the incredible journey of Richard D. Kinder and William V. Morgan, co-founders of Kinder Morgan, one of the largest energy infrastructures in North America, and a company you likely didn’t know had its roots in two Mizzou alum. Since 1997, Kinder Morgan has been delivering energy like natural gas, renewable fuels, and other energy products worldwide. The company specializes in owning and managing around 83,000 miles of oil and gas pipelines along with 143 terminals. Originating in Houston, Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (KMP) commenced its operations in 1997 with modest assets, 175 employees, and an enterprise value of roughly $350 million. Today, valued at an impressive $37.7 billion, Kinder Morgan stands as the nation’s largest natural gas pipeline operator, responsible for approximately 40% of the United States' natural gas transportation.

Richard Kinder's journey began at the University of Missouri, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in History followed by a Law Degree in 1968. His time at Mizzou saw him take on significant roles as President of the Law School Student Body and Chapter Commander of his fraternity, Sigma Nu. When faced with a draft notice after his four-year deferment, Richard had to choose between two paths: becoming a Military Police Officer through ROTC or completing his law degree to join the JAG Corps. Despite the longer commitment, he opted for the latter and commenced his service at Fort Hamilton, New York. In December 1969, he was deployed to Vietnam and, after returning home after a year overseas, he concluded his military tenure at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Transitioning from the service, he ventured into private practice before joining the Florida Gas Transmission energy company, which later evolved into Enron. His career at Enron propelled him through the ranks, culminating in his role as President and COO in 1990 before departing in 1996 to start a pipeline company with his college friend, William Morgan.

In 2014, Richard Kinder established the Kinder Institute of Constitutional Democracy at Mizzou with a clear goal: to cultivate excellence in political thought, history, and institutional understanding among students. Central to the Institute's mission is the exploration of the lasting global influence stemming from the American Founding. Richard and his wife Nancy have shown their steadfast commitment by donating $60 million to date, ensuring that students receive unique opportunities. These include coveted internships in Washington D.C. and study abroad programs at Oxford University in England. Their generosity continues to pave the way for students to access these exceptional experiences.

During his time at Mizzou, Richard became good friends with William (Bill) Morgan. William graduated with a BA in 1965 and a Law Degree in 1967. When he was subject to the Vietnam War draft in the late 1960s, he understood the need for legal support for veterans because not only was he a lawyer himself, but his father was also a Supreme Court justice. This gave him a particularly unique view of the law which led him to take a leading role in the Mizzou Veterans Clinic. Here, law students help veterans, free of charge, with discharge upgrades and disability compensation claims. William and his wife, Sara Morgan, have donated millions to the program that continues to serve our nation’s veterans.

After his Mizzou Hall of Fame award in 2020, William shared that the best part of his experience at Mizzou was the people he met. It’s quite remarkable that even three decades after graduating from Mizzou, Kinder and Morgan still had close ties - close enough to start a company together.

When reflecting on the wild successes of Kinder Morgan, Richard credits much of the success to the bond he had with his co-founder, saying in an interview “We had a good team that we built. We had complete openness among us - we knew each other so well we could kind of read each other’s thoughts.” He also notes that one of the most important pieces that contributed the most to Kinder Morgan’s successes was that the two partners had a lot of fun in the process.

Today, Kinder Morgan is a Fortune 500 company. They own and operate 37.5% of the Natural Gas Pipeline Company of America (NGPL). In 2011, Kinder Morgan made history by debuting on the New York Stock Exchange as the largest private equity-backed IPO in the United States. Expanding its reach to pipelines in Mexico and Canada, Kinder Morgan solidified its position as a dominant force in North American natural gas.

Gary Hultquist, long time friend of Richard and William and Board of Director member at Kinder Morgan, notes that the primary success of the company was the team’s vision and the Midwestern culture of “honesty, hard work, family, and respect for others” that was strengthened at Mizzou.

Richard Kinder and William Morgan's inspiring journey from college companions to successful business partners embodies the spirit of seizing opportunities and entrepreneurship. Their story stands as a guiding light for aspiring student entrepreneurs at Mizzou and beyond, highlighting the importance of forging connections and embracing the entrepreneurial spirit within their academic journey and serving as a testament to the potential waiting to be unlocked by determined and visionary student entrepreneurs.

Thank you! Check back in next Monday for a new founder feature!