Upper Big Branch: 14 Years Later
Between the chaos of the storms that wreaked havoc across parts of West Virginia earlier this week and the excitement of Monday’s eclipse, it might have slipped past some that yesterday marked the fourteenth anniversary of the Upper Big Branch mine disaster.
On April 5, 2010, the Massey-owned coal mine in Raleigh County exploded, killing 29 men:
Carl Calvin “Pee Wee” Acord, 52
Jason Atkins, 25
Christopher Bell, 33
Gregory Steven Brock, 47
Kenneth A. Chapman, 53
Robert E. Clark, 41
Cory Thomas Davis, 20
Charles Timothy Davis, 51
Michael Lee “Cuz” Elswick, 56
William Eldon “Bob” Griffith, 54
Steven “Smiley” Harrah, 40
Edward Dean Jones, 50
Richard K. Lane, 45
William Roosevelt Lynch, 59
Joe Marcum, 57
Ronald Lee Maynor, 31
Nicolas Darrell McCroskey, 26
James E. “Eddie” Mooney, 51
Adam Keith Morgan, 21
Rex L. Mullins, 50
Joshua Scott Napper, 25
Howard D. “Boone” Payne, 53
Dillard Earl “Dewey” Persinger, 32
Joel R. “Jody” Price, 55
Gary Wayne Quarles, 33
Deward Allan Scott, 58
Grover Dale Skeens, 57
Benny Ray Willingham, 61
Ricky Workman, 50
The loved ones of those lost at the Upper Big Branch Mine held a wreath laying ceremony yesterday to honor the victims.
The incident remains the most catastrophic mine disaster in terms of human cost since 1970, according to the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration.
Following multiple investigations, it was determined that a series of safety failures, including excessive coal dust, was the cause of the explosion. In its final report — which came alongside 369 mine safety violations handed down to Massey — MSHA said "the root cause of the tragedy" was "unlawful policies and practices."
The focus of Upper Big Branch was — and likely always will be — Don Blankenship, who was the CEO of Massey Energy.
Long known for his demands for miners to “run coal” and prioritize profits, the anti-union ex-boss has remained a notorious figure in West Virginia. He’s well known to have funded conservative political campaigns and loomed large over the goings-on in Charleston.
In 2015, Blankenship was put on trial in federal court for charges related to the UBB explosion. After weeks of proceedings and deliberations, he was found guilty on one misdemeanor count of willfully conspiring to violate mine safety standards.
Back then, I was part of the team (lead by Ashton Marra) that covered the trial for West Virginia Public Broadcasting. We spoke with the families of the miners who were killed, with many of them gracious enough to express their feelings about their lost loved ones, Blankenship, and the closely watched trial that brought dozens of journalists from the national media to West Virginia.
That was seemingly a lifetime ago — and some of those memories have faded a bit. But once everyone knew the verdicts were imminent, I vividly remember it being my job to sit outside the courtroom ready for news.
After weeks of deliberation, Ashton came out of the courtroom on the morning of December 3, 2015 and yelled “GUILTY on one count…” It was my job to scribble the details onto a note pad, rush to the courthouse entrance, get my phone from the U.S. Marshal at the security checkpoint and tweet the news from the WVPB news team’s account. (Yes, tweeting the news was the highest priority in those times — and, golly, does it seem like times have changed. Upon reflection, it all seems so silly.)
Digital and radio pieces had been pre-written and held for release based on a number of potential outcomes. So I rushed back to WVPB HQ on Capitol Street, made sure we published the correct story and stayed glued to my desk for the rest of the day.
I was on that journalist high — one that’s the result of some potent mixture of adrenaline and exhaustion. And the atmosphere for those weeks of the trial was heavy, to be sure.
Fresh out of federal prison in 2017 following a one year sentence, Blankenship dove head first into the political arena with a run for U.S. Senate. In the 2018 election cycle, Blankenship ran as a Republican — and, once again, I found myself on the Blankenship beat, covering debates and campaign events.
Looking back on it, I don’t think many people imagined that Blankenship could win that race. State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and then-U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins were too prominent, too entrenched, too recognizable of names in their party’s recent, swift takeover of state politics. And Blankenship seemed simply too controversial. But covering those debates — and meeting and speaking with Blankenship supporters — certainly made me see him as a wild card.
In the end, the ex-coal boss finished third, pulling just under 20% of the vote in a field of six GOP candidates. Morrisey won the nod from Republican voters, but wound up losing in the general election to Democratic stalwart Sen. Joe Manchin.
Now, with Manchin calling it quits in the Senate, Blankenship is running for that same Senate seat as a Democrat — and he’s on the ballot for the May 14th primary (more to come in a few weeks, including my pie-in-the-sky idea to bolster democracy). He’s going up against Wheeling mayor Glenn Elliott and progressive Zach Shrewsbury, a political newcomer and Marine Corps veteran from Princeton.
The West Virginia Democratic Party seemingly wants little to do with Blankenship — which is saying something, considering parties and their leaders rarely interject themselves in primary contests.
Mike Pushkin, a delegate from Kanawha County and the chair of Dems in West Virginia, had this response when Blankenship first announced his campaign.
“I don’t care what letter he has after his name this week, Don Blankenship is not a Democrat and does not represent the values of our party,” Pushkin said back in January.
Pushkin added that Blankenship will forever be known as “federal prisoner 12393-088,” and — noting the former CEO’s run in 2018 and a failed presidential run in 2020 as a member of the Constitution Party — forecasted that Blankenship would become a part of the “3 time loser club” following the 2024 primary.
While I haven’t heard or seen any reactions to Blankenship’s current campaign from Upper Big Branch families (if any of them spoken to the press, please point me to that), it’s not impossible to imagine their sentiments might be along the same lines as Pushkin’s.
At the least I can say this: the families of those miners who died weren’t too fond of Blankenship when I spoke to them back in 2015.
From the WV Weakly News Vault:
Seeing how the West Virginia Encyclopedia can be a fun resource, I wanted to draw your attention to the following entries. They seem relevant given the anniversary of the Upper Big Branch Mine disaster.
April 01, 1946: Miners walked off the job after operators rejected the idea of health and welfare
April 05, 1989: The United Mine Workers of America went on strike against Pittston Coal.
And now, finally, the news of the week — the WV Weakly Reader:
Mingo deputies withdraw AG candidate endorsement due to remarks on trooper's death ~ Leslie Rubin, WCHS-TV
Ohio River swells to 41.85 Feet, highest since 2005, before beginning slow retreat ~ The Intelligencer/Wheeling News Register
Wood County sheriff identifies woman who died in flood waters ~ The Parkersburg News & Sentinel
About 200 tombstones destroyed due to severe weather; Almost 400 veterans buried here ~ D.K Wright, WTRF-TV, Wheeling
Tornado touched down in Fayette County, weather service says (WITH VIDEO) ~ Lori Kersey, West Virgnia Watch via the Beckley Register Herald
What to know if you want to watch Monday's solar eclipse in West Virginia ~ Fred Pace, The Charleston Gazette-Mail
Free Spring Nature Fling events blossoming across Southern WV ~ Rick Steelhammer, The Charleston Gazette-Mail
Lastly, with Weakly co-founder, co-publisher and co-goofball Giles Snyder turning 60 (Shhh! But, yes, that’s 6-0) this Wednesday, I wanted make a humble ask for you to make a pledge of support in his honor.
The two of us have a lighthearted competition over whose weakly scribblings get the most eyes and new subscribers. So, even though I took care of this week’s edition, I’m forfeiting over any advantage I might gain on him this week.
Happy early birthday, Giles. I’ve done my part. Now, it’s up to Weakly readers.