To my father, business was the highest calling, but to my mother, medicine was the top profession.

The other half of the prize was awarded to K. After his year in preparatory school Knowles attended Harvard where he majored in chemistry focusing on organic chemistry. Personal life
Following his retirement in 1986 Knowles resided in Chesterfield Missouri a suburb of St.

He shared half the prize with Ryōji Noyori for their work in asymmetric synthesis specifically for his work in hydrogenation reactions. Barry Sharpless for his work in oxidation reactions.