Interview with Robert Bruce Hern, Jr., November 2, 2023

Interview Summary

In this interview, Robert Bruce Hern, Jr., son of Robert Bruce (Bob), Sr. and Pauline Hern and grandson of Josie and Charlie Parker (Benham coal miner) relates his pursuit of his love of chemistry and mathematics into an international career with various coal companies. He attended primary school in International Harvester’s Benham School, and completed high school at USSteel Lynch High. Youthful memories include the Benham Credit Union and its Annual Meeting gift of silver dollars to the members, and Family life and his Father’s building a large Playhouse from old L & N Railroad ties for friends, as well as the Benham Youth Center. Particularly appreciative of Lynch teachers Mr. Smith, Johnny Coppinger and Ed Miracle, Bruce also enjoyed playing sports and the comradery of playing Lynch football during the initial years of integration and their championship. An University of Tennessee Chemical Engineering Department graduate, he tells of Arch Moran, General Manager of Lynch-USSteel introducing him to his first coal mining position. Bruce also describes in detail the coal preparation, bituminous and anthracite coal, metallurgical coal, continuous miner, long wall system; and the story of a coal miner’s lunch pail becoming a symbol for initiating a Strike. Bruce’s international career began in John Anderson-Armand Hammer’s open-pit Coal plant in China, and he relates his family’s presence in Beijing during the Tiananmen Square Uprising. Additional international experiences and references include Russian President, Mikail Gorbachev, a Romanian Salt Mine; Australia; Brazil and Columbia South America, as well as moments of Fear. Bruce has also authored “The Global Adventures of Arguille MacGregor,” and “Arguille MacGregor – Domesticated."

Interview Keyword

Benham and Lynch Kentucky Benham Credit Union Benham Youth Center old Railroad ties Silver dollars Robert B. and Pauline Hern Josie and Charlie Parker Arch Moran, General Manager of Lynch-USSteel Lynch teachers Mr. Smith, Johnny Coppinger and Ed Miracle Mathematics and Chemistry Lynch High School Football-integration and championship U of Tenn Chemical Engineer coal preparation bituminous and anthracite coal metallurgical coal continuous miner long wall system coal miner’s lunch pail-as a symbol for strike John Anderson-Armand Hammer Coal plant in China Tiananmen Square Uprising Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev Romanian Salt Mine Australia Brazil and Columbia South America moments of fear The Global Adventures of Arguille MacGregor (Book) Arguille MacGregor – Domesticated (Book)

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