1892-1962

French-born, American chemist whose method for catalytically cracking crude petroleum to produce high-octane gasoline revolutionized the refining industry. During World War II approximately 90 percent of all Allied aviation fuel was produced by his process. Also during the war, Houdry developed a catalytic process for producing synthetic rubber. After World War II he focused on reducing carcinogens in automobile and industrial exhausts. His 1962-patented catalytic converter is now standard on all American cars.