A Pennsylvania native, Kenneth Derr, Cornell ’59, was an athletic child, playing basketball and tennis. He was also an outstanding student who won awards in both math and English in high school. At Cornell, where he joined SigEp’s New York Beta chapter, Derr continued to excel academically and competed as a member of the tennis team.

In 1959, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and earned an MBA the following year. With his new wife, Donna, Derr relocated to take a job with Standard Oil of California. This was the start of a 40-year career with the company, which would later become known as Chevron.

In just 12 years, he became the youngest vice president in the company’s history. His career with Chevron culminated in his promotion to president in 1979 and election to the board of directors in 1981. Just three years after joining the board, Derr oversaw what was then the largest corporate merger in history when Chevron and Gulf Oil were combined.

Within the business community Derr is often remembered for his determination to achieve the largest shareholder return in the industry. He accomplished that goal within his first five years as CEO. Because of his phenomenal business acumen, Derr was in high demand to serve on corporate boards and industry organizations, including as chair of the American Petroleum Institute. He also served as a trustee of his alma mater, Cornell University.

In 1989, the Fraternity presented Derr with the SigEp Citation for his outstanding professional achievements. He later volunteered as a member of the committee to select other alumni for the award.