James H. Harless
Encyclopedia
James H. Harless, also known as James "Buck" Harless (born in Taplin, Logan County
, West Virginia
in 1919-10-14) is a coal & timber operator. He's a native of Gilbert
, in Mingo County
, West Virginia.
, he worked as a miner
for several years at Red Jacket Coal Co. In 1947 he gave up mining to become a part-owner and manager of a Gilbert saw-mill.
He grew the Gilbert Lumber Company into the multi-million-dollar International Industries Inc conglomerate, which is the founder in 1947 and now the President and CEO of International Industries, that exceed $700 million a year in revenue
. International Industries, Inc. is based primarily in natural resources such as coal mining and timber, but which also include the manufacturing, hotel and real estate industries. It conducted business from three divisions including International Resources, Inc. (coal mining and marketing company L&K Coal), Gilco Lumber (lumber
production and distribution), Inc., and Benson International, Inc. (manufacturing of trailer
s and truck bodies) and had operations in five states serving domestic and international customers.
Harless has been on the Massey Energy
Board of Directors serving up to 2005 as the Chairman of the Public and Environmental Policy Committee.
Harless was appointed by President Bush to the United States Air Force Academy
Board of Visitors.
In 2004 he was President George W. Bush-Campaign Organization, West Virginia State Finance Chair.
Also James "Buck" Harless, introduced Bush to the crowd at the West Virginia Coal Association annual meeting on July 31, 2008.
Logan County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 37,710 people, 14,880 households, and 10,936 families residing in the county. The population density was 83 people per square mile . There were 16,807 housing units at an average density of 37 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
in 1919-10-14) is a coal & timber operator. He's a native of Gilbert
Gilbert, West Virginia
Gilbert is a town in Mingo County, West Virginia, United States, along the Guyandotte River. The population was 417 at the 2000 census. Gilbert was incorporated in 1918 and named for Gilbert Creek, which derives its name from the name of an early traveler in the area who was killed by Native...
, in Mingo County
Mingo County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 28,253 people, 11,303 households, and 8,217 families residing in the county. The population density was 67 people per square mile . There were 12,898 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile...
, West Virginia.
Companies
After graduation from Gilbert high schoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, he worked as a miner
Miner
A miner is a person whose work or business is to extract ore or minerals from the earth. Mining is one of the most dangerous trades in the world. In some countries miners lack social guarantees and in case of injury may be left to cope without assistance....
for several years at Red Jacket Coal Co. In 1947 he gave up mining to become a part-owner and manager of a Gilbert saw-mill.
He grew the Gilbert Lumber Company into the multi-million-dollar International Industries Inc conglomerate, which is the founder in 1947 and now the President and CEO of International Industries, that exceed $700 million a year in revenue
Revenue
In business, revenue is income that a company receives from its normal business activities, usually from the sale of goods and services to customers. In many countries, such as the United Kingdom, revenue is referred to as turnover....
. International Industries, Inc. is based primarily in natural resources such as coal mining and timber, but which also include the manufacturing, hotel and real estate industries. It conducted business from three divisions including International Resources, Inc. (coal mining and marketing company L&K Coal), Gilco Lumber (lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
production and distribution), Inc., and Benson International, Inc. (manufacturing of trailer
Trailer (vehicle)
A trailer is generally an unpowered vehicle pulled by a powered vehicle. Commonly, the term trailer refers to such vehicles used for transport of goods and materials....
s and truck bodies) and had operations in five states serving domestic and international customers.
Harless has been on the Massey Energy
Massey Energy
Massey Energy Company was a coal extractor in the United States with substantial operations in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia. By revenue, it was the fourth largest producer of coal in the United States and the largest coal producer in Central Appalachia...
Board of Directors serving up to 2005 as the Chairman of the Public and Environmental Policy Committee.
Coal organizations
Harless was inducted into the West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame. The West Virginia Mining and Reclamation Association named him the Coal Man of the Year in 1976.Administration
"You did everything you could to elect a Republican president," William Raney, director of the West Virginia Coal Association told a group of industry executives in May 2001, did not submit the Kyoto global warming protocols for Senate ratification. "You are already seeing in his actions the payback, if you will, his gratitude for what we did.".Harless was appointed by President Bush to the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
Board of Visitors.
In 2004 he was President George W. Bush-Campaign Organization, West Virginia State Finance Chair.
Also James "Buck" Harless, introduced Bush to the crowd at the West Virginia Coal Association annual meeting on July 31, 2008.
See also
- AsbestosAsbestosAsbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals used commercially for their desirable physical properties. They all have in common their eponymous, asbestiform habit: long, thin fibrous crystals...
- Buck
- Massey EnergyMassey EnergyMassey Energy Company was a coal extractor in the United States with substantial operations in West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia. By revenue, it was the fourth largest producer of coal in the United States and the largest coal producer in Central Appalachia...
- Mountaintop removal mining
- Shelly Moore Capito