Fred C. Anschutz (1907-1995) was an American oil wildcatter and independent producer primarily active in Kansas during the mid-20th century. Born into a modest family in rural Kansas, he entered the oil industry as a self-made entrepreneur, drilling exploratory wells in search of oil deposits in the Midwest. His persistence paid off with successful strikes, particularly in the 1940s and 1950s, which laid the foundation for the Anschutz family fortune. Fred founded what would become the Anschutz Exploration Corporation, focusing on oil and gas leases in Kansas and surrounding states, and established the family business. His business acumen and risk-taking approach exemplified the independent oilman archetype, navigating the volatile energy market without the backing of major corporations. He raised his family in the oil business environment, instilling entrepreneurial values in his son, Philip Anschutz, who later expanded the family enterprise into a vast conglomerate spanning energy, entertainment, and telecommunications. Fred's operations were centered in small-town Kansas, where he built a reputation for hands-on management and community involvement. Though not a public figure himself, his legacy endures through the enduring influence of the Anschutz family in American business. Throughout his career, Fred faced the typical challenges of the independent oil sector, including dry wells and market fluctuations, but his successes provided financial stability for his family. He retired in the later decades of his life, passing the reins to Philip, who transformed the modest oil venture into one of the world's largest privately held companies. Fred's story is one of Midwestern grit and foundational enterprise in the U.S. energy sector.