In this interview, Vernon Miniard, Superintendent of the Monticello School System, discusses his family and background, his time working for Blue Diamond Coal Co., as well as his time in the military and education. He also discusses school boards, problem
Carl Brock discusses his complicated childhood and adult life, which resulted in regular moves between Flemingsburg, Morgan County, Wolf County, and Powell County. Brock comments on working in construction, factories, and the coal mines while raising 10 children with his wife of 44 years (at the time of the interview). The interview also includes…
Elmer Combs discusses growing up on a farm in Perry County near Hazard, Kentucky. Interview topics include discussions about coal mining, farming and farm life, self-sufficiency practices, molasses production, and other related changes from the times of his youth to the present.
F. M. Burke is a Pike County, KY native. He attended Eastern State Teachers College and Normal School. In this interview, Burke, gives detailed information about his family history, growing up on a farm and his father's timber business. After being rejected for not meeting the requirements for admission to Eastern, he boarded a train and headed to…
Letcher County native George Fugate describes his life while growing up on a farm where he was raised by his grandparents. Fugate mentions that John C. Mayo bribed his grandmother for coal rights after they moved to Whitesburg. When Fugate finished eighth grade he attended Eastern Normal School, which was the first time he saw running water and…
Rome Rankin was a football coach for EKU. In this interview, Rankin discusses his enjoyment for History, English, and contact sports. Rankin played football, basketball and baseball in college, and professional football at the same time he played college football. He believed physical education helps develop young people emotionally and socially,…
In this interview, Mr. James Crawford, editor of The Corbin Times Tribune, discusses the daily operation of his newspaper, and problems involved with reporting the news.
In this interview, Wayne Blevins, a Johnson County native, details his family history, their public service careers, and the problems he has faced as County Judge Executive. Discussion topics include conversations over his term as judge, Johnson County growth, and the county needs for employment opportunities, housing programs, and recreation.…
Sid Williams, a Knott County native, details his family history, military service record, work history and political career in this interview. Interview topics include the Judicial Referendum, his experiences as a natural gas drilling contractor, and his relevant contributions while in office, which include a new jail, medical clinic, nursing home,…
Calloway Montgomery, a Magoffin County native discusses his family history, education, military service record, and his county political career in this interview. Interview topics include the Judicial Referendum, Fiscal Court, Big Sandy AD District grants, Revenue Sharing, coal mines, and relevant coal miner unemployment trends
In this interview, Hershel Lynch discusses his employment history and public service career. Lynch concludes that poor infrastructure and high unemployment were the primary shortfalls in Jackson County. This interview also contains additional comments by Herman Brockman, a former Jackson County Court Coordinator.
Frank T. Thomas was the executive vice president of the Stearns Mine during the 1976-1979 Blue Diamond Coal Strike. In this interview Thomas discusses how he came to work first for Stearns Mining Company and then Blue Diamond Coal Company. He tells how Blue Diamond purchased Stearns, how he viewed both Blue Diamond and Stearns, as well as the…
Bobby Kidd was a coal miner during the 1976-1978 Blue Diamond Mine Coal Strike. While working for Blue Diamond he worked as a roof bolter inside the mine. In this interview Kidd discusses the safety violations that occurred in the mine and management's inability to handle the safety complaints made by the miners. He also talks about why the miners…
Joe E. Jones was a coal miner during the 1976-1979 Blue Diamond Coal Strike. Jones worked at the Blue Diamond Coal Company Mine for two to three years, and he describes his job as repairing and retrieving parts for broken machinery in the mine. In this interview Jones describes some of the safety issues within the mine, how managers within the…
Randell Hines was a striking coal miner during the 1976-1979 Blue Diamond Coal Strike. He worked many different jobs within the mine and said he worked in the conventional sections with different types machinery. In this interview Randell discusses the differences in safety between the Blue Diamond Coal Company mines and the Peabody Coal Company…
James Douglass was a coal miner during the 1976-1979 Blue Diamond Coal strike. Before the strike he worked as a coal loader and a drill runner from the time he was 18 years old. In this interview Douglass discusses the main safety issues within the mine, the mistreatment miners received from company managers, the issues the miners had with the…
Bill Reynolds was a coal miner at the Blue Diamond Coal Company mine in McCreary County, Kentucky. He was one of many miners who joined the Blue Diamond Coal Strike from June 1976 to May 1979. In this interview Reynolds discusses how the coal miners of the Blue Diamond mine went on strike as a result of the miners demanding better representation…
