WorldWide Drilling Resource

29 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® SEPTEMBER 2019 In Memoriam Christopher Cline “The King of Coal” July 5, 1958 ~ July 4, 2019 The King of Coal has been laid to rest after a tragic helicopter accident on July 4th. Although he was a billionaire, he never forgot his upbringing in the West Virginia coal mines. He was born in Isaban, West Virginia, July 5, 1958. At six-years-old, his father would pay him to fill bags with dirt, which would be used to pack explosives at the coal mine. When the front porch collapsed, it was obvious young Chris had been getting the dirt from under the house. “It taught me the importance of engineering roof supports,” he later explained. Much of his childhood was spent underground, and he would follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who were both coal miners. He began working as an underground coal miner in southern West Virginia in 1980, at the age of 22. He left Marshall University early to help his father in his mine and quickly moved into management. He borrowed money to buy the company's first continuous miner, which at the time, was an innovative improvement to coal production. He worked 16-hour shifts, seven days a week, month after month leading his crew, to pay it off. His big break came when he was able to buy an unprofitable mine for $1 million, improve its performance, and flip it for $17 million. His coal enterprises took him from Appalachia to Illinois and Canada. He was ahead of his time in anticipating the market for coal. While he understood those who opposed using coal, he was passionate about people deserving the most affordable energy. Chris was also a very generous man. He created the Cline Family Foundation in 2009, to provide college scholarships to enterprising young West Virginians. The Cline Family Foundation gave millions to West Virginia University; Marshall University; Place of Hope, a foster care and adoption organization; Peacehaven Community Farm, a home for disabled adults; orphanages in West Virginia and Haiti; Save the Children; humanitarian aid organizations in Tanzania; churches; and the Raleigh County YMCA. He helped many needy individuals, oftentimes only the recipients knew the details of his personal acts of private charity. His helicopter was heading to Fort Lauderdale from the Bahamas when it was found submerged in the Atlantic. Unfortunately, his daughter Kameron, along with five others, also perished in the crash. Chris is survived by his daughter Candice Cline Kenan (James); sons Christopher and Alex; and brothers Greg Cline and Kenneth Cline.