Interview with George E. Evans, Jr., February 8, 1989

Interview Summary

George E. Evans, a former Secretary of the Kentucky Energy Cabinet, describes growing up in West Virginia where his father where his father managed the Tanna Coal Company. He describes his first jobs in coal mining. Evans attended college at Notre Dame and trained in business. One summer during college, he took a job with a coal company in Wayland in Floyd County, Kentucky. After finishing his degree he came back to Floyd County, and worked in the office at a coal mine. He slowly worked his way up in the administration until he was able to buy a mine of his own.

Evans describes the transition to mechanization in the early 1940s. He discusses the issue of paying miners in scrip instead of real money that they could use at the company store, but explains that his mine did not have a company store. Evans also describes the unionization of the mines, and safety issues in the mine industry. He recalls what qualities he looked for in good employees and building his business by buying defunct coal companies. Evans also describes the Mine Safety Analyst Bill and the Scotia Coal Company mine disaster in 1976 where a methane explosion killed 26 men.

Interview Keyword

acid rain B.F. Reed coal associations coal markets Coal Operators Coal Summits I and II Consolidated Coal Company David Zegeer desirable traits in owners employee relations energy policy Floyd County Island Creek Coal Company John L. Lewis Knott County local and state politics media mine safety mining technology Scotia Senator Watson underground mining unionization Wayland

Interview LC Subject

Appalachian Region Coal miners Coal mines and mining--Appalachian Region Evans, George E. Evans, George E.--Interviews

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Interview Usage

Interviews may be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, Special Collections, University of Kentucky Libraries.