By Bill Reid

October 27, 2020 - Members of the coal industry were saddened to learn that Robert E. Murray, Founder, and former Chairman, President and CEO, Murray Energy passed away early on Sunday morning. He had announced his retirement just five days before from the Chairmanship of American Consolidated Natural Resources Inc. (ACNR), the succeeding company of Murray Energy. He had spent 63 years serving the coal industry.

“No one has been more devoted to the coal industry and ACNR’s business than Mr. Murray”, said Robert D. Moore, ACNR President and CEO at the retirement announcement. ”When others shied away from the industry, he dug in and worked hard for the industry and for our business. We will always appreciate Mr Murray for all he has done and in recognition of that he has been named Chairman Emeritus.”

Of Scottish decent, his father, grandfather and great-grandfather were coal miners and Bob went to work in a coal mine at the age of 17 to provide for his family, rising from the ranks from miner to engineer and eventually to becoming President and CEO of North American Coal Company (NACCO). In 1988, he formed Murray Energy by mortgaging nearly everything he owned. The company grew to over 7,500 employees with operations in Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Alabama and Utah and was the largest privately held underground coal operator in the nation with an annual production reaching 62.8 million tons of coal.

Bob was born on January 13, 1941 in Martins Ferry, Ohio. He was valedictorian of Bethesda High School class of 1957. He received a Bachelor of Engineering in Mining Engineering from Ohio State University, and completed the Management Program at Harvard Business School.

He served as a member of the Board of Directors of National Mining Association, American Coal Foundation, National Coal Council, Ohio Coal Association, and Pennsylvania Coal Alliance. He was a trustee and former President of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers, and the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration as well as Past-President of the Rocky Mountain Coal Mining Institute. He was a long-time member of the King Coal Club and the Old Timers Club.

It is widely accepted in coal circles that Bob Murray has done more to stand up for the coal industry than anyone else. For decades, he arranged effective political fund-raising events and regularly appeared on TV vigorously defending coal. In recent times, Bob’s public appearances have been greatly missed as the industry faces its supreme challenge for survival. Bob is remembered as a coal miner, mining engineer, company founder, job creator, philanthropist and a friend to many. Thank you, Bob, for your enormous contribution to American coal!

Bob leaves his wife Brenda, and three sons, Robert, Ryan and Jonathan. Everyone in and connected with coal are offering their thoughts and prayers to the Murray family. A private Memorial Service is scheduled for Tuesday.

Bob Murray, As He Would Like to be Remembered