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James “Buck” Harless Presented the Spring 2006 Poundstone Lecture

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James “Buck” Harless Presented the Spring 2006 Poundstone Lecture Page 1 From the Department of Mining Engineering College of Engineering and Mineral Resources West Virginia University n April 20, James “Buck” O Harless presented the Volume 6 Issue 1 For the latest, visit our website at June 2006 Poundstone Lecture to a http://www.mine.cemr.wvu.edu packed house of students, pro- fessors, alumni and friends. His lecture was simply titled, James “Buck” Harless Presented the Spring “Success”, and he is certainly uniquely qualified to discuss 2006 Poundstone Lecture this topic. Buck was born 86 years ago in Logan County, “Success” West Virginia (WV). The inter- that success often requires vening years have seen him At the start of the lecture, Buck presented hard work and sacrifices; and 3) grow a single sawmill into a a strong faith to provide spiri- multi-million dollar, multi- three important ques- tions for the students to tual and moral guidance. national company (International Another secret of success is Industries) in the timber, coal ponder: 1) What does success mean? 2) How recognizing opportunity. Specifi- and land businesses. Along the cally for the students, Buck way, he earned six honorary do we know that we have achieved success? noted that education is an op- doctoral degrees from higher portunity and is important to institutions in WV and KY, in- and 3) Who determines if a person is success- maximizing an individual’s op- cluding WVU, became a vision- portunities. Throughout his ary leader in the WV lumber and ful? To assist the stu- dents in their pursuit of career, Buck related how he coal industries, and has gener- had advanced his businesses ously given back to his local success, and the mean- ing of success, Buck interests by buying and selling and state communities as a his various assets as the best distinguished philanthropist. proceeded to relate a number of his personal opportunities presented them- thoughts and experi- selves. Buck wanted to make MAJOR STORIES ences in the area. First, sure that the students under- Buck noted that there stood that business is good for are different areas for James “Buck” Harless at the society. Specifically, he stated • James “Buck” Harless success: social, per- podium during his lecture. that “no institution in society presented Poundstone Lecture. sonal and business, and contributes more to our well being than economic enter- • Raymond Blower Endowed that these areas are very inter- case was the result of his aunt prise. The finer aspect of society Scholarship to Mining who raised him after his mother related. Buck then credited his such as schools, churches, etc., are Engineering Program. passed away when he was four foundation for success to three only possible when businesses months old; 2) a supporting • Marshall Miller awarded with specific aspects of his child- make a profit”. And Buck cer- community, including teachers WVU Honorary PhD. hood: 1) a very loving and nur- tainly understands this and coaches who taught him turing home, which in Buck’s (See Harless, Page 2) • Dr. Su received the first SME Syd S. Peng Ground Control in Mining award at 2006 SME Annual Meeting. Raymond H. Blowers Endowed Scholarship • Visiting Committee discussed he Department of Mining former School of Mines of West fied Mining Engineering stu- curriculum and recruiting T Engineering is the recipient Virginia University (WVU). dents from all other states. Mr. Initiatives. of a new undergraduate schol- The undergraduate scholar- Blowers was a resident of Gal- • Alumni feature articles & news. arship named, The Raymond H. ship will give first preference to lipolis, Ohio and devoted the Blowers, Jr. Scholarship. The qualified Ohio residents en- major portion of his profes- • Alums, faculty and students scholarship was established by rolled in the Mining Engineering sional life to the electric power received awards and his will in his estate. Raymond Program at WVU. If there are no industry. Mr. Blowers died in scholarship at Spring Award H. Blower, Jr. was a 1951 Min- qualified Ohio residents, then May 2004. Banquet. ing Engineering graduate of the the scholarship is open to quali- Volume 6, Issue 1, Spring 2006 Black Diamond Page 2 Marshall Miller Honorary Doctoral Degree, WVU arshall S. Miller, a member of the M Visiting Committee, Department of Mining Engineering, WVU, was awarded Honorary Doctoral Degree at the 137th Commencement WVU on May 14, 2006. Marshall S. Miller started his own com- pany in 1976, Marshall Miller and Associ- ates, Inc., and he is chairman and CEO of the company. The company has since be- James “Buck” Harless, David Hardesty, presi- come one of the largest consulting firms for dent, WVU, and Dr. Syd S. Peng, Chair of Mining the coal industry in the United States, and Engineering Department, CEMR, WVU. has offices in eight states as well as in China, South America, and Canada. It has Marshall S. Miller (right) received been recognized as a top engineering and the Honorary Doctoral Degree design firm by Engineering News-Record, from David C. Hardesty, Jr., WVU and Mr. Miller has been honored as president at the Commencement. "Entrepreneur of the Year" by various groups. (Harless from Page 1) connection personally having donated considerable time and money to society. At the end of the lecture, Buck Dean Gene Cilento, CEMR, welcomes and answered one of his original Presents gifts to Mr. Harless. questions by suggesting that maybe success is measured by the person himself. And in clos- ing, he charged the students with maintaining a good work ethic and promised that there is still a lot of opportunity available for James “Buck” Harless received the crystal those that are willing to work trophy from Dr. Syd Peng, Chair of Mining hard. Engineering Department. The audience packed the auditorium to listen to Department Visiting Committee Met Mr. Buck Harless presenting the Poundstone lecture. to Discuss Curriculum and Recruiting he Department Visiting Com- T mittee met on April 20, 2006. Among the issues discussed were the BSMinE curriculum, recruit- ing, and computer support and space. The Committee explored the possibility of additional courses on “business aspects” of the energy industry, and reviewed the progress of high school re- Attending the Visiting Committee Meeting were (from left): Stanley Suboleski, Federal Health & cruiting program and college com- Safety Review Commission; John Murphy (Chair), University of Pittsburgh; James Boyd, J. T. Boyd puter support and the need for Company; Bill Raney, WV Coal Association; Michael Peelish, Foundation Coal; James Corsaro, Penn more space for Mine Design Virginia Resources; Ron Stovash, CONSOL Energy; Jeff Wilson, Wilson Energy Advisors; Jeff Kelley, Laboratory. ICG; Jim Laurita, Mepco Inc.; and Marshall Miller, Marshall Miller and Associates. Volume 6 Issue 1, Spring 2006 Black Diamond Page 3 by Steve Tadolini (PhDMinE ‘03), Dr. Daniel Su Received the First SME Society Chair, SME S. S. Peng Ground Control in Mining Award Syd S. Peng Ground Control in Mining Award urement. he Syd S. Peng Ground Con- Dr. Su has been a pioneer in the trol in Mining Award is pre- T development of accurate numeri- sented annually to recognize cal modeling software programs, outstanding professionals who horizontal stress concentrations have demonstrated insight and and the concept of stress shad- understanding of ground con- owing, the estimation of large- trol issues by developing con- scale coal pillar strengths, and cepts, theories or technologies hydraulic fracturing techniques to that have been adopted by the reduce frontal abutment stresses mining community or the suc- for longwall face supports. Dr. Su cessful implementation of is invaluable to the CNX COAL ground control designs or prac- operations staff and consulted tices. The first recipient was Dr. when changes in ground condi- Daniel W. H. Su (PhDMinE, ‘82), tions occur, when mining scenar- Sr. Geomechanical Engineer of Dr. Syd S. Peng, Chairman and C. T. Holland Professor, ios are being modified, and for all CNX Coal Operations’ Engineer- West Virginia University, presenting SME Syd S. Peng standing and intrinsic support ing Group, CONSOL Energy who Ground Control in Mining Award to Dr. Daniel Su. system designs. Dr. Su’s impact received the award at the 2006 can be summarized by a quote Annual SME Meeting in St. coal business joining CONSOL Conference of Ground Control from a Mine Superintendent who Louis, MO. Energy in 1986 where he in Mining (ICGCM) that high- stated, “When Daniel talks, every- The Syd S. Peng Award was serves the vital role in oversee- lighted his expertise on complex one listens”. presented to Dr. Daniel Su in ing all aspects of geotechnical ground control issues such as recognition of his distinguished design and problem solving for longwall geomechanics, subsi- Note: For Award selection record of integrating theoretical 14 underground complexes and dence, shield design, pillar de- criteria, visit, http:// and technical solutions to solve 13 longwalls. Dr. Su has pub- sign, entry and floor stability, www.smenet.org/SCRD/ real-world operational ground lished and presented 14 techni- roof and rib support, horizontal SCRDViewAward.cfm? control problems. Dr. Su has cal papers at the International stress, and in situ stress meas- BUID=0&TypeID=44 spent nearly 35 years in the Letter from Josh Moran in Alumni Northeastern Iraq • Gerald Clark, Sr. (BSEM ‘53 Jan 6, 2006 MSEM ‘60) passed away in Dr Peng, Staff and MinE Stu- March 2005. dents: • Douglass Fala, P.E. (BSMinE ‘99) was promoted to the osh Moran here, in northeast- superintendent, Harris #1 J ern Iraq. Here is what I drive Mine, Eastern Associated every day, an uparmored freight- Coal Corp., a subsidiary of liner. I haul all sorts of stuff like Peabody Energy. vehicles, lumber, parts, etc., on a Editor’s Note: Josh, a native • Joseph Ferrell, P.E.
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