The Saying Goodbye To
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AppalachianThe October/November 2012 FREEVOICE Saying Goodbye to the Keeper of the Mountains 1946-2012 Growing UpAre we Green preparing our children for the environmental challenges of the future? ALSO INSIDE: The Hiss-tory of the Timber Rattler • Coal’s Finite Frontier TheAppalachian Voice A publication of AppalachianVoices A Note from our Executive Director Bidding Farewell to a Mountain of a Man 171 Grand Blvd • Boone, NC 28607 By Lenny Kohm Dear Readers, 828-262-1500 Larry Gibson was an exceptional man After that day in www.AppalachianVoices.org Communities fighting mountaintop removal coal mining lost a 1998, Larry and I shared Larry Gibson [email protected] – a warrior for the mountains that he loved, leader and a friend in September with the death of Larry Gibson, a man an advocate for justice, and a mentor to the many more experiences. 1946-2012 EDITOR ....................................................... Jamie Goodman who loved a mountain and refused to sell it to the highest bidder. Larry thousands of people all across the country We attended countless MANAGING EDITOR ...........................................Molly Moore was connected to a place, and because of that became an inspirational who joined with him in his struggle to end meetings in West Virgin- ASSOCIATE EDITOR ...........................................Matt Grimley force in the movement to end the reckless destruction of Appalachian the daily tragedy that is mountaintop removal ia, Kentucky, southwest CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ...................................... Brian Sewell mountainscapes. coal mining. Virginia and Tennessee, DISTRIBUTION MANAGER .................................. Maeve Gould and strode through the While many environmentalists get involved in advocacy to protect a special place, I first met Larry in the early summer GRAPHIC DESIGNER .........................................Meghan Darst endless halls of Congress others join the movement because they think like a scientist. For me, thinking like a scientist means of 1998, climbing out of a pickup truck that to garner support for leg- employing the art of the long view, planning not just for today, but for future generations. Part dwarfed his five-feet-two frame. I had received DISTRIBUTION VOLUNTEERS: Alison Auciello, Heather Baker, Becky islation that would end of that is continuing to educate our youth in environmental and natural science, as we explore a call from professor Harvard G. Ayers, the Barlow, Bob Belton, Jere Bidwell, Blue Smoke Coffee, Charlie Bowles, Cindy mountaintop removal. Bowles, Lynn Brammer, Jane Branham, Steve Brooks, Carmen Cantrell, Alex in this issue of The Appalachian Voice. It also involves prevailing on our politicians — as much as founder of Appalachian Voices, describing to Through the press confer- Carll, Charlie Chakales, Shay Clanton, Chris Clark, Patty Clemens, Theresa they resist — to consider science when making policy. me the devastation that was taking place in the Crush-Warren, Beth Davis, Detta Davis, Deborah Deatherage, Lowell Dodge, mountains of Central Appalachia and asked if ences and committee hear- Finley Dula, Nels Erickson, Lauren Essick, Emma Ford, Dave Gilliam, Scott We seem to be coming up short on both. A recent Harvard report ranked the United States said, “It is hard to escape the I would travel to see the tragedy first-hand. At ings, the briefings and meet- Goebel, Lisa Goodpaster, Bruce Gould, Michael Grantz, Gary Greer, Kelly 17th globally in science education, and a 2011 editorial in Nature ings — through it all, Larry Griffin, Tim Guilfoile, Sharon Hart, Susan Hazlewood, Sandy Heim, Cary and that time nobody had heard of mountaintop Clockwise from top left: Larry Karen Huffman, Tim Huntley, Pamela Johnston, Mary K., Amelia Kirby, Rose conclusion that the U.S. Congress has entered the intellectual wilderness, a sad state of affairs removal coal mining and there was almost was tireless in his quest to looking out over the devasta- Koontz, Frances Lamberts, Justin Laughlin, Carissa Lenfert, Sean Levenson, in a country that has led the world in many scientific arenas for so long.” nothing written that described the practice or educate the entire planet Susan Lewis, Loy Lilley, Debra Locher, Joy Lourie, Gail Marney, Lee Martin, about what was happening tion on Kayford Mountain Mast General Store, Kathy McClory, Kim Greene McClure, Jay McCoy, Rich Appalachian Voices stands for protecting the Appalachian Mountains, because we love them its terrible impacts on the ecology and the local to his beloved mountains. with his dog, Dog. Photo by McDonough, Mike McKinney, Steve Moeller, Dave and Donna Muhly, Dennis as our homeplace, they provide our drinking water, and we enjoy their beauty and recreation communities. Larry was loveable and Mark Schmerling Murphy, Catherine Murray, Cabell Neterer, Dave Patrick, Janet Perry, Bronwyn opportunities — and also because they harbor hundreds of species that exist no place else on The drive through Coal River Valley in Reece, Martin Richards, Carol Rollman, Kristin Rouse, Vicki Ryder, Debbie made friends easily wher- Earth. Join with us today in saving this special place. central West Virginia was a sobering experi- Dancing with his wife Carol Samuels, Steve Scarborough, Gerry and Joe Scardo, Craig Schenker, Kathy ever he went. For more Selvage, Brenda Sigmon, Leah Smith, Sarah Smith, Jennifer Stertzer, Mike ence, with processing plants, giant conveyor at Stanley Heirs Park. Photo For the mountains and the planet, than 20 years, he travelled Wade, Nora Walbourn, Bill Wasserman, Jim Webb, Dean Whitworth, Amy belts and mounds of coal looming over dust- by Carl Galie Wickham, Graham Williams, Barbara Williamson, Diana Withen, Johnny Yousef, the country speaking to col- covered homes lining the road along the nar- Walking with renowned scientist Gabrielle Zeiger, Ray Zimmerman leges, community groups, and whomever row valley floor. In the small town of Whites- sive magazine, he re- James Hansen and film director Printed on 100% recycled newsprint, cover 40% recycled paper, all soy-based inks Willa Mays, Executive Director would listen to the plight of the folks living in ville, retired teacher Janet Nease met me and mained to most folks “just the shadow of mountaintop removal. Young Mari-lynn Evans during the March immediately told me there was someone she Larry.” Fame outside of people were drawn to Larry, who was always for Blair Mountain. Photo by Paul very much wanted me to meet. the anti-mountaintop re- quick with a big smile or a joke, and students Corbit Brown INSIDE THIS ISSUE Larry, while short in stature, was not afraid moval movement was 2nd Edition from all over the country took up his cause, Background by Paul Corbit Brown About the Cover of sharing his opinion with anyone. As we drove not a concern, though, building an army of young citizens united the winding dirt road on the way up to his fam- because to him what mat- The photo of Larry Gibson was taken by Paul Corbit against injustice. Managing Brown not long before the Keeper of the Mountains ily’s land on Kayford Mountain, he talked low tered was that the coal com- He continued to work on his land on Kay- passed away. Brown had these thoughts to share: and fast in a thick Appalachian accent about panies stopped hurting his people and his your ford Mountain, adding a stage area and camp- To say Larry had an p. 8-18 what he was taking me to witness. “See them ancestral land. ing spots, creating in Stanley Heirs Park a place enormous impact on all big rocks in the middle of the road,’ he said, Larry is gone now and I for one will miss where people in the movement would gather Woodlands of our lives wouldn’t be pointing over the dashboard. “Well, them are him. I am sure that there is a special place in As a popular saying among to celebrate July 4 or the changing of the leaves enough. To say he was a fly-rock, and they come from the mine site when heaven for such a mountain of a man. I can still hero wouldn’t be enough. each fall and revel in their common cause. environmental educators they start-a-blowin’ up my mountains!” hear his voice every day shouting to me and A Guide for Southern To say he changed our lives Larry never quite received the notoriety He led me to the edge of his property, past anybody who will listen: Appalachian Landowners wouldn’t be enough. To say has was deeply loved and goes, “you protect what you love, and appreciation he deserved. Although CNN will be missed wouldn’t be enough. But let me tell you his family’s cemetery, to a sweeping overlook of network interviewed him as part of their “He- “They’re blowin’ up our mountains Produced by: Appalachian Voices what was on his heart just days ago. and love what you know.” the environmental devastation that surrounded He stressed that this fight was never about him his home. After that moment, looking at the roes” series, and Terry Tempest Williams wrote and there oughta be a law!” In our special section on education, an article about him and Kayford Our handbook on forestry management or his mountain alone. It was, and is, about all of us moonscape that used to be mountains, I knew I gives you the knowledge and resources and our shared future. It is about the thousands of discover how youth are connecting to couldn’t turn away from joining Larry’s mission. Mountain for The Progres- you need to make smart decisions about young people that he called his kids. It is about those your forest and become a better steward not yet born. the Appalachia that we know and love. of your land. He wanted to be a voice for all people and the Now with a Free DVD “Landowner’s mountains and homes they love.