The King of Cool: Frederick McKinley Jones and His Revolutionary Invention

The Man Who Kept the World Fresh and Moving

The King of Cool

During World War II, storing and transporting perishable goods was critically important. These goods included blood, medicine, and food. Their preservation was a matter of life and death. One man’s ingenuity made this possible: Frederick McKinley Jones, an African American inventor whose refrigeration technology changed industries forever.

Jones was born in Covington, Kentucky, in 1893 (some records state 1892). He faced a difficult childhood. Eventually, he ran away at age 11. He had little formal education. Despite this, he displayed an extraordinary mechanical aptitude. He worked as an auto mechanic by 14. Later, he excelled in steamship, furnace, and farm machinery repair. In 1912, he moved to Hallock, Minnesota, where he maintained farm equipment and later served in World War I. Upon returning, he continued to teach himself mechanics and electronics, leading to a series of groundbreaking inventions.

Jones’ talent caught the attention of entrepreneur Joseph Numero, who hired him in 1930 to improve his company’s sound equipment. Yet, Jones’ most impactful invention came about through an unexpected conversation. When Numero’s golfing buddy lamented the lack of refrigerated trailers, Numero bet five dollars that Jones would solve the problem. True to form, Jones designed and built the first mechanical refrigeration unit for trailers in record time.

“Flowers in the middle of winter. Pineapples. Coconuts. It was unheard of until Fred came up with an idea,” said Rick Smith, Thermo King’s company historian.

Jones patented his refrigeration system in 1940 and co-founded the U.S. Thermo Control Company (later Thermo King), revolutionizing food transportation. His technology allowed fresh food to be shipped nationwide, making supermarkets what they are today. His invention was vital in World War II. It ensured that soldiers had fresh supplies. Medical necessities were also available on the battlefield.

Legacy of Frederick McKinley Jones: Black Minnesota inventor pioneered refrigerated transportation

Jones was a true pioneer. He held over 60 patents. His designs included a portable X-ray machine and an automatic ticket dispenser. Yet, as a Black man in early 20th-century America, he faced immense challenges. “He was good at what he did. He knew how to build a car. He knew how to race a car. Did the mechanics on it and everything, which was, again, unheard of at that time,” Smith recalled. Despite the barriers, Jones became the first African American member of the American Society of Refrigeration Engineers in 1944.

Jones passed away from lung cancer in 1961, but his legacy endured. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush posthumously awarded him the National Medal of Technology, making him the first African American recipient. Today, his refrigeration advancements still transport life-saving vaccines globally. They also help to distribute fresh food worldwide. This cements his title as the “King of Cool.”

Dwayne Cowan of Thermo King expressed it well. “We talk about all the great things that are happening today, the Googles and the Microsofts. Well, I say Fred Jones started something important back in 1938, and we are all benefiting from it today.”

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