Recognitions

For over three decades, J. 'Chris' Adkins has exemplified leadership and innovation within the engineering profession. As a visionary in his field, Adkins has driven significant advancements in safety and operational excellence within the mining industry. 

Eastern Kentucky native Rusty Justice has built a career based on entrepreneurial spirit, community involvement, and engineering know-how, all in the heart of the place he calls home.  Justice earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees in mining engineering and civil engineering from the University of Kentucky in 1983 and 1985, respectively. Following his graduation, Justice set out to utilize his education and practical experience to establish himself as an innovator in design-build solutions across multiple industries. 

Damon Barber is a global natural resources finance and operations executive with over 30 years of experience. Since 2014, Barber has been the senior managing director of Liberty Metals & Mining. He has led and directed all aspects of investing and managing a portfolio of over $1 billion of global private equity investments in the mining sector.

B.S. in Mining Engineering, 1992

B.S. in Mining Engineering 1966 D.J. Patton isn’t reluctant to talk about his humble beginnings. By his account, he wasn’t a good  college student, grew up in a poor family and went to a high school where the academics were well below average. For those reasons, Mr. Patton credits the University of Kentucky and, specifically, the Department of Mining Engineering, with giving him the training for a successful career in the mining industry.

B.S. Agriculture Engineering 1975 M.S. Mining Engineering 1991 J. Steven Gardner is a prolific author and writer on significant mining engineering issues, with his pieces appearing in dozens of leading industry publications that reflect vast and deep experience in consulting work that has taken him across the country.

B.S. Mining Engineering 1981 Determined. That is the word that best describes L. Stanley (Stan) Pigman. From humble beginnings in Knott County in eastern Kentucky, he was determined to attend University of Kentucky, determined to be a successful engineer and remains determined that students like him will also attend UK. That determination earned Mr. Pigman a Bachelor of Science in Mining Engineering in 1981.

Harry Washburn was one of those rare people who saw the big picture and the crucial details. With that combination, he was both an inspirational executive and an outstanding engineer. As president of The North American Coal Corporation, Mr. Washburn saw and acted on new opportunities, leading the company’s successful transformation from an Eastern underground mining company to a Western surface mining company. His influence remained strong throughout his career.

Born in Tompkinsville, Kentucky, Dr. Jack B. Howard received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in mining engineering from the University of Kentucky in 1960 and 1961 respectively. Continuing his education at The Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Howard earned a Ph.D. in 1965.

By his own description, Louis Ware’s career was a planned one which, “with tenacity, the help of other competent people, a good health record and, of course, a goodly portion of luck, worked out as planned.” Following receipt of a Bachelor of Mining Engineering degree from the University of Kentucky College of Mining Engineering in 1917, Mr. Ware headed for the mines to become miner and underground boss for Old Dominion Copper Company in Globe, Arizona. His plan included getting experience in all types of mining, and he did just that.

Born and educated in Fayette County, Kentucky, Samuel M. Cassidy received his Bachelor of Science in metallurgical engineering in 1925. After graduation, he accepted a position with Allen and Garcia Company, consulting and construction engineers, in Chicago, Illinois, where he received valuable experience in the field of coal mining. While employed at Allen and Garcia, he completed the requirements for a masters degree in mining engineering (’28). In 1946, he became president of Consolidation Coal Company (KY) in Jenkins, Kentucky.

In 1921, with a Bachelor of Science in mining engineering, Earl D. Wallace, Sr. began his professional career as engineer and geologist for petroleum exploration at Petroleum Exploration, Inc., in Lee County, Kentucky. In 1942 he became a vice president and director of The Standard Oil Company ( Ohio) headquartered in Cleveland.