May 30, 2020 - News has reached CoalZoom that Royce J. Watts passed away around 5:30 pm on May 29, 2020 in Texas after a bout of pneumonia. Royce was very highly regarded by the coal industry as Associate Dean for Administration in WVU’s Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. 

Royce was also well-known and highly respected for his extraordinary contribution to the West Virginia Coal Mining Institute ably assisted by his late wife, Caroline. Royce began carrying out acting Secretary-Treasurer duties in 1980, becoming Secretary-Treasurer in 1995 and for 38 years, his contribution to the Institute was immeasurable. Each year, he took over the role of Master of Ceremonies of the West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame, and was himself fittingly inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2008, which marked the 100-Year Anniversary Celebration of the Institute. 

Watts earned both his BS and MS degrees from WVU joining the faculty as an instructor in 1955. For many years, he taught while serving as Associate Dean for Administration in WVU’s Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources. His many awards include being recognized as a Distinguished West Virginian by Governor Cecil Underwood, and receiving the Erskin Ramsey Gold Medal from A.I.M.E. The same year, he received the Most Loyal Faculty Mountaineer during WVU’s Homecoming celebrations.

In 2005, the West Virginia Coal Mining Institute endowed the Mining, Petroleum and Natural Gas Museum and renamed it the Royce J. and Caroline B. Watts Museum “for two individuals who have tirelessly supported its mission for more than two decades” to honor the couple’s contributions to WVU and the State’s mining heritage. 

Many members of WVCMI will fondly remember a warm welcome from Royce at the Registration Desk at meetings over many many years and few will forget the raffle tickets handed out by Royce and drawn for prizes by those attending the Saturday morning presentations! Long after everyone had left the venues at the end of meetings, with the farewells said, Royce and Caroline could be seen loading up their vehicle with the materials and paperwork left over from that meeting.

The contribution by the Watts family will be remembered for a long-time and without Royce Watts’ leadership and driving force, the West Virginia Coal Mining Institute would not be what is today. Royce will also be long-remembered for the able part he played at WVU as well as his love of coal mining and deep fondness for West Virginia. Royce will be missed by all of us in the coal mining community.

Funeral arrangements are not known at present and may be delayed due to the need to navigate through the coronavirus situation.

“Our prayers and thoughts are certainly extended to Royce’s son, RJ, and his family,” said Bill Raney, President of the West Virginia Coal Association. “We will always remember Royce as a great American and a wonderful gentleman.”