Bob Murray, a coal titan who founded the company bearing his name, died on Sunday at age 80.
Murray’s political activity and fierce defense of the coal industry perhaps made him as well known as his company’s business activities.
His death was first reported by WTOV-TV and then by the Intelligencer newspaper in Wheeling, the area where Murray made waves for so many years. Sources in the coal industry also confirmed the death to MetroNews late Sunday evening.
Murray had been in ill health for several years, becoming more acute in recent weeks. Just days ago, his retirement as chairman of the company’s board was announced. Early this month, his application for black lung benefits was reported by public broadcasting. In the black lung claim, Murray said he depended on oxygen and was “near death.”
Michael Shaheen, a St. Clairsville, Ohio, attorney who has been representing Murray, told the Intelligencer on Sunday afternoon that Murray had died that morning. Shaheen said a private memorial service will be held Tuesday.
Murray Energy, which is based in St. Clairsville, just came through bankruptcy. The company emerged in September as a newly-formed American Consolidated Natural Resources. During that process, Murray had shifted to a board chairman role.
Murray, who claimed to have lied about his age so he could start working in a coal mine as a youth, worked in a series of coal executive roles before starting his company in 1988. That began inauspiciously, with the purchase of a single continuous mining operation with an annual output of one million tons a year.
Quickly, Murray Energy Corporation embarked on a strategy of buying high-sulfur coal reserves and aiming to be the low cost producer in coal regions. Murray Energy purchased the former Consolidated Coal holdings in West Virginia about a decade ago.
Murray Energy grew to be the nation’s largest privately held coal company, producing about 53 million tons of high quality bituminous coal in 2018. By the time of its bankruptcy, the company employed about 5,500 people, including about 2,400 active union members.
Bob Murray had been an active backer of conservative politics, both in West Virginia and nationally. News of his death drew statements of appreciation from political figures like West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, Senator Shelley Moore Capito and Congressman David McKinley, all Republicans.
Bob taught me a lot about the coal industry and for that, I will always be appreciative. Very sad. https://t.co/KjDqvUFvL3
— Patrick Morrisey (@MorriseyWV) October 26, 2020
Saddened to learn of the passing of Bob Murray. He was a staunch ally for coal miners, a good friend, and a one of a kind person. Thinking of his friends and family during this difficult time. https://t.co/VlnpxDOD4l
— Shelley Moore Capito (@SenCapito) October 26, 2020
Bob Murray was an icon in the coal industry. His passing yesterday will be mourned by Americans across the country. Through his vision he created thousands of jobs and gave families and communities hope. His life was an embodiment of the American Dream; let him Rest In Peace.
— David B. McKinley (@RepMcKinley) October 26, 2020
Murray threw invitation-only fundraisers for President Donald Trump in Wheeling, near the company’s headquarters, donated $300,000 to Trumps’ inauguration and submitted an action plan of coal-boosting requests numbering more than three pages.
Murray often used his political platform to push for breaks for the coal industry. He also fought regulation at the state and federal level.
Murray was critical of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for its rejection of a rule that would have subsidized coal and nuclear power plants, calling the agency “feckless.”
Murray said he wasn’t afraid to tell Trump that during a 2019 fundraiser he hosted.
“FERC is feckless. His FERC,” Murray told a reporter from E&E News covering the fundraiser. “And I told him that.”
His battles extended to the coverage he got. Murray filed more than a dozen defamation lawsuits against journalists and newspapers, but none reached judgment in his favor.
In June 2017, Murray Energy issued a cease and desist letter to the current events comedy television show “Last Week Tonight,” hosted by John Oliver, saying a segment “incited viewers to do harm to Mr. Murray and his companies.” The suit against HBO was dismissed with prejudice in 2018.
Just days ago, when announcing his retirement, Murray described pride in his life’s work, including the fights.
“Throughout my life in and about coal mines and in our industry, I have given all that I had to our employees and their families to sustain their family livelihoods and jobs for the hardworking people in our mining communities,” Murray stated.
“I tried to put my faith and our families first so that we could build the best possible coal company in Murray Energy Corp.