Most engineers start at the bottom of a project and work up, but Fred takes a flying leap to the top of the mountain and then backs down, cutting steps for himself and the rest of us as he goes- Obituary in the Saturday Evening Post about Frederick McKinley Jones.
In the quest to uncover the brilliance of Black creators whose innovations transformed our world, one trailblazer stands out – Frederick McKinley Jones, the refrigeration pioneer dubbed the “King of Cool.” His groundbreaking portable cooling units not only revolutionized how we transport perishable foods, medicine, and blood, but his ingenuity in the face of adversity reveals an inspiring narrative too often obscured by history.
Jones’ journey began humbly in 1893 Cincinnati, born to a white father and Black mother who soon abandoned the family. With little formal education past the 6th grade, the self-taught Jones developed an insatiable curiosity for mechanics from working odd jobs at garages. This thirst for knowledge propelled him to Minnesota in 1912, where he became an adept electrician and earned an engineering license by age 20 while employed on a vast farm.
It was during World War I that Jones’ skills truly shined. Originally enlisted in a segregated, all-Black unit in France, his superiors quickly recognized his talents and promoted him to Sergeant. Jones spearheaded electricians wiring field communications and repairing vital hospital equipment like X-ray machines, exhibiting the resourcefulness that would define his pioneering career.
In the postwar years, Jones continued blending electronic expertise with an ingenious entrepreneurial spirit. He constructed Hallock’s first radio transmitter station and patented innovations like a sound-synchronizing device for movies and an automated ticket dispenser. But it was a chance meeting with businessman Joseph A. Numero in the late 1930s that upended the food transportation industry forever.
Challenged by Numero to design a portable cooling system for trucks after a driver lost perishable cargo to melting ice, Jones got to work transforming refrigeration. His pioneering prototypes led to the innovative Model C unit in 1941 – a compact yet powerful machine that could withstand the intense vibrations of freight transit. Numero and Jones co-founded the U.S. Thermo Control Company (later Thermo King) to produce this revolutionary technology.
Jones’ mobile cooling units played a pivotal role for Allied forces in World War II, preserving vital medical supplies, food rations, and even blood plasma for the frontlines. In peacetime, his invention transformed how Americans accessed fresh produce year-round rather than relying on seasonal crops. The “King of Cool” catalyzed a refrigeration renaissance still felt today whenever you glimpse a refrigerated truck on the highway.
Over his prolific career, Jones secured over 60 patents across refrigeration, sound systems, engines and more – a remarkable achievement for a Black man facing rampant racism and exclusion. He shattered barriers as the first African American admitted to the American Society of Refrigerating Engineers in 1944.
In celebrating this visionary’s enduring impact, we rejoice that Jones received his roses while still here – awarded the National Medal of Technology in 1991 after being inducted into the Minnesota Inventors Hall of Fame. As the first African American recipient of this prestigious honor, he inspired a new generation to follow their curiosities and innovative sparks, no matter the obstacles.
Frederick McKinley Jones’ journey epitomises the core of this “Black Creators” series – recovering the stories of pioneers whose brilliance influenced our contemporary society while triumphing over institutional obstacles. By magnifying their exceptional intelligence and tenacity, we elevate a hitherto overlooked heritage that has been unjustly marginalised in historical accounts. May Jones’ resourcefulness and resolve serve as a catalyst for us to continuously inquire, innovate, and fearlessly construct the future we see.
