Feature Stories
Mine Rescue Remembered: Events Mark 10th Anniversary of Quecreek Rescue in Pennsylvania
July 30, 2012
Like the eight other miners who were trapped in the Quecreek Mine, Blaine Mayhugh thought he would die 245 feet underground. Mayhugh was one of nine men from Black Wolf Coal Co. working in a seam when 50 million gallons
Real Life Mining Stories With Leadership Lessons: Take a Daily Check of Your Business’ Environment
July 13, 2012
One of my daily duties as a supervisor in an underground coal mine was to check the barometer in the foreman’s office prior to going underground. Each shift, a foreman noted the barometer reading on a chart. This check was
Real Life Mining Stories Leadership Lessons: Leaders Responsible for Communication & Relationships
June 22, 2012
One of my most important safety tools as a supervisor in the coal mines was an anemometer. The anemometer (a round device with fan-like blades) measured the flow of air. Twice a day, by state law, I was required to
Real Life Mining Stories: In Crises, Good Leadership and Good Followership Are Critical
May 25, 2012
In the 1970s and early 1980s, Underground coal mining was one of the most dangerous jobs in America. After my last day underground in July 1982, I remember thinking that I was glad I survived those nine years with all
Real Life Mining Stories With Leadership Lessons: It Takes Leaders & Followers to Build Great Things
May 9, 2012
On May 20, 2007, I was a featured speaker on a tour of “The Little Cities of Black Diamond.” South of Nelsonville, we passed the Eclipse Company Town built to house coal miners and their families around 1900. On the
Real Life Mining Stories With Leadership Lessons: Don’t Leave Leadership Training to Chance
April 17, 2012
From 1974 through 1976 the coal mine in which I worked experienced a number of wildcat strikes. Several of these strikes lasted more than a week. During this time, I was a member of the United Mine Workers of America
Real Life Mining Stories With Leadership Lessons: Dialogue Essential Between Managers, Workers
April 10, 2012
An almost mystical occurrence in mining culture of the 1970s was the wildcat strike. Wildcat strikes were a show of power by the union. The philosophy of some union officials was to strike first and talk later. However, the company’s
Helping Make Wishes Come True
April 3, 2012
This year, the CONSOL Energy Golf Outing and Dinner on Saturday, May 19 at Cedarbrook Golf Course, celebrates 16 years of making wishes come true for children with life-threatening medical conditions throughout Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Since its start in
Coal: The Rock That Burns
March 21, 2012
Coal is very low on the scale of subjects for ballads or charming folklore. Like Rodney Dangerfield, it just doesn’t get any respect. What does a naughty boy get in his Christmas stocking? A lump of coal. As a career,
Real Life Mining Stories With Leadership Lessons: Respectful Power Creates Success
March 21, 2012
The coal mining process with which I had the most experience is called Room and Pillar. A continuous miner cut five tunnels and crosscuts to connect them on 60-foot centers. Mining in this way left 40-foot blocks of coal to
