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Scotia Mine Disaster Memorial

Victims of the Scotia Coal Mine Explosions

Scotia Coal Company
Scotia Mine Explosions

Oven Fork, Letcher County, Kentucky
March 9, 1976
No. Killed - 15		   March 11, 1976
No. Killed - 11

             
Related Links:
•Accident Description
•Middlesboro, KY Daily News Articles
•The Ballad of the Shadow Miner
Written by E. B. "Reb" Allen 1976
•Remembering Scotia by Bob Cornett  PDF Format
Scotia Mine Disaster Marker - Side 1
Scotia Mine Disaster Marker - Side 2
Location: 37° 2.881′ N, 82° 49.76′ W.
Marker is near Whitesburg, Kentucky, in Letcher County.  Marker is on U.S. 119, 2.1 miles west of Kentucky Highway 806, on the left when traveling west.  Marker is in this post office area: Cumberland KY 40823
Photographed by Duane Hall
Source: Historic Marker Database

No. Name Age Job Classification Job Experience Mining Experience
1 Glenn Barker 29 Motorman 5 yrs. 5 yrs.
2 Dennis Boggs 27 Utility Man 2 yrs. 2 yrs.
3 Everett Scott Combs 29 Ventilation 5 yrs. 3 mos. 5 yrs. 3 mos.
4 Virgil Coots 24 Section Foreman 7 mos. 4 yrs. 2 mos.
5 Don Creech 30 Utility Man 4 mos. 8 yrs. 4 mos.
6 Larry David McKnight 28 Motorman 1 yr. 10 mos. 3 yrs. 5 mos.
7 Earl Galloway 44 Shuttle Car Operator 11 yrs. 7 mos. 14 yrs. 7 mos.
8 David Gibbs 30 Repairman 10 yrs. 9 mos. 10 yrs. 9 mos.
9 Robert Griffith 24 Belt Cleaner 2 yrs. 2 yrs.
10 John Hackworth 29 Timberman 2 yrs. 6 mos. 2 yrs. 6 mos.
11 J. B. Holbrook 43 Tipple Operator 13 yrs. 13 yrs.
12 Kenneth B. Kiser 45 Federal Mine Inspector 5 yrs. 27 yrs.
13 Roy McKnight 31 Timberman 4 yrs. 6 mos. 4 yrs. 6 mos.
14 Lawrence Peavy 25 Supplyman 6 yrs. 8 mos. 6 yrs. 8 mos.
15 Carl Polly 47 Roof Bolter 7 yrs. 2 mos. 7 yrs. 2 mos.
16 Richard M. Sammons 55 Federal Mine Inspector 5 yrs. 26 yrs.
17 Tommy Ray Scott 24 Miner Operator 3 yrs. 6 mos. 3 yrs. 6 mos.
18 Ivan Gail Sparkman 34 Bratticeman 1 yr. 11 mos. 1 yr. 11 mos.
19 James Sturgill 46 Belt Cleaner 1 yr. 11 mos. 11 yrs. 11 mos.
20 Jimmy W. Sturgill 20 Utility Man 1 yr. 6 mos. 1 yr. 6 mos.
21 Monroe Sturgill 40 Roof Bolter 3 yrs. 10 mos. 13 yrs. 10 mos.
22 Kenneth Turner 25 Roof Bolter 3 yrs. 9 mos. 3 yrs. 9 mos.
23 Willie D. Turner 25 Shuttle Car Operator 5 yrs. 8 mos. 5 yrs. 8 mos.
24 Grover Tussey 45 Federal Mine Inspector 1 yr. 26 yrs.
25 Denver Widner 31 Ventilation 1 yr. 11 mos. 1 yr. 11 mos.
26 James Williams 23 Section Foreman 6 mos. 4 yrs.

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