It is with a heavy heart that we forward this special edition of headline news with the obituary of Fred Tucker, Co-Chairman of the West Virginian Coal Forum.
Fred was initially appointed to the West Virginia Mine Safety & Technical Review Committee and appointed as Co-Chairman of the West Virginia Coal Forum by Governor Caperton in 1991. He has served consecutive terms under six governors until his death on October 8, 2020.
Fred was an unyielding crusader for miner safety and personal protections in West Virginia’s coal mines and simultaneously fought for the advancement and viability of the coal industry.
Under his leadership, the Coal Forum served as host for a variety of legislative and public briefings on new mining technologies, manpower needs, mine training and certification programs, and mine safety initiatives.
As the labor representative and Co-Chairman of the Coal Forum, Fred successfully represented miners around the state in the most professional, progressive, and respectful manner, and will be missed by all within the mining and mine safety profession.
Fred Tucker was particularly proud of the design and placement of the West Virginia Coal Miner Statute on the state Capitol grounds that was commissioned by the West Virginia Coal Forum.
Fred Tucker was a great coal miner and an honorable man. God bless Fred Tucker.
Who We Are The West Virginia Coal Forum was created in 1986 under the auspices of the Mine Safety & Technical Review Committee and at the direction of the West Virginia Legislative Committee on Coal Mining. This body was created to establish a forum for the coal industry to jointly resolve or develop technical and other issues impacting the industry, particularly those issues of an economic nature, or of major significance to the coal industry. The Forum also provides a means for management and labor leaders to develop joint legislative issues and programs and to promote the coal industry.
