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| COAL MINER SPOTLIGHT |
- The following information was provided by family members
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Clifford Allen
McCowan
5/13/1944 - 11/27/2007
 s
Clifford
McCowan started his career in the coal mines in
the early 60's with Castle Coal company in Open
Fork (Nora), Virginia. He worked at several coal
companies over the years, with the last two
companies being at Clinchfield's Moss 2 and
Lambert Coal Company. He continued working at
Lambert's until he was injured on the job in the
late 70's.
Clifford
was a good husband, father, brother and uncle. I
have a lot of fond memories of my Uncle and he
will be sorely missed. Clifford was 63 years of
age when God called him home.
I ran
across the poem the other day, and I thought it
was fitting that I shared it with you
here.
I'm
Free
Don't grieve
for me, for now I'm free.
I'm following the
path God laid, you see.
I took His hand when
I heard him call.
I turned my back and left
it all.
I could not stay another day,
To
laugh, to love, to work, or play.
Tasks left
undone must stay that way.
I found that peace
at the close of the day.
If my parting has
left a void,
Then fill it with remembered
joys.
A friendship shared, a laugh, a
kiss,
Oh yes, these things I too will
miss.
Be not burdened with times of
sorrow.
I wish you the sunshine of
tomorrow.
My life's been full, I savored
much.
Good friends, good times, a loved one's
touch.
Perhaps my times seemed all too
brief.
Don't lengthen it now with undue
grief.
Lift up your hearts and peace to
thee.
God wanted me now; He set me
free
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For our
family, working in the coal mines was a way of
life. Clifford worked with his father, Grady
McCowan, at Castle Coal, and later on, he worked
with his Brother, Corbett McCowan, at Lamber
Coal Company. One memory of him that I will
carry with me forever, is Uncle Clifford telling
us that he loved us during his last few days on
Earth. I know it sounds like a simple thing,
but to me, it meant the world. One day we will
see each other again. I love and miss you.
Written by
his nephew, Eric McCowan (owner of the
website)
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Ireland Lafayette
Sykes
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12/02/1901 -
1/14/1930
s
Ireland Lafayette Sykes was born 02 Dec
1901, in Dickenson County, the son of Brice and
Cora Jane (Wright) Sykes of Tarpon. Ireland was
married to Nancy Mullins, daughter of Samuel
Patton and Elizabeth Mullins. Ireland and
Nancy had five children: Ireland Lafayette
Sykes, Jr. (died young), Brice "Little Brice"
Sykes, Guy Sykes, Imogene Sykes, and Jimmy
Sykes. Ireland was a motorman in the Number
9 mine at Clinchco. He was killed 14 Jan 1930 on
the motor he is pictured on here. His name
is listed on the coal miners memorial at
Clinchco.
Written by Great Niece, Gayle Stanley
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Euther
Moreland Sykes
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12/31/1897 -
12/8/1918
Euther Moreland Sykes
was born 31 Dec 1897, in Dickenson County, the
son of Brice and Cora Jane (Wright) Sykes of
Tarpon. Euther was married to Lilly Myrtle
Hay, daughter of Wilson and Elizabeth Hay.
Euther and Lilly were married 01 Jul 1918, in
Dickenson County. They had no children. He was
killed only 5 months after their wedding.
Euther was injured in a rock fall at
the No. 7 Mine in Clinchco, and died at
home on 08 Dec 1918, only three days
later. He was crushed in his
chest. His name is listed on the coal
miners memorial at Clinchco.
Submitted by his great niece Gayle
Stanley
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- HARRY LEE GOLLAWAY
Died Jan 29,1975
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My dad Harry Lee Gollaway was a coal miner for over 30 years. He was
the father of 11 children and worked diligently to feed and clothe us all.
My father died Jan 29,1975 due to black lung and other coal mines related
illnesses. He deserves to be remembered in the fondest way. I love my father
and miss him very much. He was a one of a kind dad. My father had to ride
in the back of a pickup truck during the winter and all through the year
for that matter to go to Shackleford Coal mines in Harlan,KY. I can remember
him coming in the house with ice frozen on his boots and pant legs. I was
a horrible sight and we had to deal with this day after day. My father retired
from the mines in 1969. I was 9 years old then. Many men of that day had
to work in Ky because there wasn't enough work in Southwest VA
Written by his daughter, Leila (Gollaway ) Reinersman
BRIAN SCOTT OWENS
12/20/1961-12/07/1992
- A lot of people knew Brian as "Junkman". He was always working
on cars. He had several Roadrunners' and Mopar's, as they called them.
He had is own wrecker and raced sometimes at the racetrack in Coeburn.
Though he had lots of fun with his hobbies, the love of his life was his
wife and his daughter - she was his world. When he and his sister were
younger, they were pretty close. They enjoyed doing things children loved
to do, like jumping into piles of leaves, playing with Hot Wheel Cars.
- Brian worked at South Mountain mines near Norton. A methane Explosion
killed 8 men that day, online one survived. Brian left behind his mother,
his brother Kevin, his sisters Teresa and Susan, his loving wife, his beautiful
daughter Lori Ann, and many more family members and friends who loved him
and miss him everyday.
- "You will always be my brother. You were one of a kind to me,
and always will be. This time of the year is really rough on me, but I
hope to be with you again one day, watching you grinning at me. Until then,
I know you are with me wherever I go, as you are with your precious daughter.
We love and miss you Brian. I love you." From your sister Susan.
- Tom Woods,Bill Woods,Rueben Woods, Frank Woods
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Rueben Woods: born 1880 died 1950
Rueben got his leg broke in a mining accident and died later from a blood
clot
He was still working in the coal mine at age 70
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- Odell Woods: born 3/18/1924 died: 8/30/1966
Odell was a boss when he got killed, he was knocking a timber out and a
rock fell and broke his back.
- How these miners are releted:
- Tom, Bill and Rueben were brothers. Odell was Ruebens son. Frank was
Ruebens son and Odells brother.
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- Kat Counts
01/24/1932 - 6/21/1983
Born January 24 1932, Mary K. "KAT" Counts was just like any
other person in Dickenson County. Her family consisted of her mother, father
and 5 siblings. Times were hard back then, so when she was old enough,
she went to work in the coal mines. A very prevalent job during that era,
Kat enjoyed success at her job. During her life, she worked at 3 different
coal mines, including working at Open Fork, Splashdam, and finally, at
a mines in McClure.
- It was at the McClure mines one sunny summer day when tragedy struck.
What Kat didn't know that morning when she woke up, was that her fate,
along with 7 other hard working miners, was already sealed. Sometime during
her shift, a gas explosion ripped though the mines. The explosion claimed
7 lives that day. Unfortunately, it gave Kat the unwilling fame as being
know as Virginia's first woman to die in the coal mines.
- The 7 brave miners who
lost their lives that day were Kat Counts, Covey
J. French, Dale Stamper, Jr, Forest Carter "F.
C." Riner, Jr, Ernest A. Hall, Luther J. McCoy
and Eugene W. Meade.
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