Charleston, W.Va. - - The West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame, a joint initiative between the West Virginia Coal Mining Institute and the West Virginia Coal Association and housed at the WVU Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources in Morgantown, inducted its newest class of honorees at a ceremony Tuesday evening, June 22, at the Marriott at Waterfront Place in Morgantown.
This year’s honorees include Jim Justice, Governor of the State of West Virginia; Steve Leer, Former CEO and Chairman of Arch Coal; Michael Quillen, Former CEO and Chairman of Alpha Natural Resources; Chris Cline, founder of Foresight Energy (posthumously); Ralph Ballard, founder of the Investment Management Group, LLC; and, Chris Hamilton, President of the West Virginia Coal Association.
This is the 24th class of inductees for the West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame, which began in 1998. Governor Justice is only the third father-son combination to be honored. His father, James C. Justice, Sr., was inducted in the inaugural class of 1998.
Chris Hamilton, President of the WV Coal Association, said, “These West Virginians, pillars of the mining industry and communities throughout the state, are absolutely deserving of this honor. They are all trailblazers that have had an incredibly positive impact on the coal industry and the State of West Virginia.”
Vlad Kecojevic, President of the West Virginia Coal Mining Institute, said, “These four individuals have tirelessly served the State of West Virginia and their contributions to the modern coal mining industry have been recognized, not only on a national, but also an international level. Their hard work and dedication for the continuous improvement of the coal mining industry has been exemplary and their induction to the West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame is more than deserving.
For additional information, contact Chris Hamilton at (304) 342-4153.