WILLIAM N. POUNDSTONE LECTURE THE BENJAMIN M. STATLER COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MINERAL RESOURCES

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1 WILLIAM N. POUNDSTONE LECTURE THE BENJAMIN M. STATLER COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MINERAL RESOURCES DEPARTMffiNTOF~GENGThffiEruNG WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY "CAREER AND LIFE CHANGING DECISIONS" CALVINKIDD SEPTEMBER 18,2014

2 INTRODUCTION OF CALVIN KIDD FALL, 2014 POUNDSTONE LECTURER Good afternoon, everyone, and welcome to the Fall, 2014, William N. Poundstone Lecture. The Department of Mining Engine~ering established the William N. Poundstone Lecture Series in 2000 to honor Mr. Poundstone, a distinguished alumnus of the Department, and to bring mining industry experts to campus to share their expertise with students and faculty. We are greatful to Mr. and Mrs. Poundstone for supporting this series, and we are priviledged to have them in attendance, today. Please join me in expressing our appreciation to Bill and Muff Poundstone for supporting this annual event. At this time, I would like to introduce our Poundstone Lecturer for the academic year. When I was trying to think of an appropriate introduction for our Poundstone Lecturer, the phrase, "this gentleman needs no introduction" kept coming to mind. Oftentimes, the statement is followed by audience members turning to the person seated next to them, whispering, "who is he or she?" Well, I feel very confident that, of all the people I know in the coal mining industry, this gentleman TRULY needs no introduction, particularly to the West Virginia Mining Engineering community!

3 Mr. Calvin Kidd was born and has lived in Fayette County his entire life. He attended both Marshall and Mountain State Universities. He began his career with Long-Airdox Company in 1967 and held various sales positions including VP Sales from He joined Continental Conveyor in 1997 as an Account Specialist and in 2008 was named Manager of Field Sales and Service. Continental was acquired by Joy Mining Machinery in 2009 at which time he was named Strategic Alliance Manager responsible for Cline Resources. He joined Quaker Chemical Corporation in 2012 as Director for Business Development in the Mining Division and, for the record, works for Kevin Dickey, Global V.P. who is a 1992 Alumnus ofwvu Mining Engineering. During his career he has been an active member and served on the Board of Directors of most coal Mining Institutes. He is a member of The Old Timers Club, King Coal Club, Careers in Coal and serves on the Board of Directors of The Fellowship of Christian Athletes. One of his most cherished awards was established in 2006 by the SME Student Chapter in the West Virginia Department of Mining Engineering and is named the "Calvin Kidd Fellowship Award" which is awarded annually to someone for dedication to student growth and advancement by promoting professional interaction and fellowship within the industry. Further, He was inducted into the Kanawha Valley Coal Mining Institute Hall of Fame in Calvin and his lovely wife Carol will celebrate their 46th Wedding Anniversary in October. They are the proud parents of a daughter, Melissa,

4 and a son, David, and I am sure they spoil their four grandsons Tyler 20, Austin 14, Scott Mikel 12, and David Graison 7. He and Carol attend and are active members of the Jones Avenue Church of God where he serves as a member of the Board of Trustees. ON A MORE PERSONAL NOTE... I have known Calvin as far back as his Long-Airdox days, and there are few people who are as committed to the education of the future generations on mining engineers as Calvin. Therefore, it is fitting that Mr. Calvin Kidd be recognized for the impact he has had on mining education, by inviting him to present the William N. Poundstone lecture. Please join me in welcoming Calvin to the podium!

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6 CAREER AND LIFE CHANGING DECISIONS DR. BISE, FACULTY, FRIENDS, STUDENTS AND FAMILY, IT IS TRULY AN HONOR TO HAVE BEEN SELECTED BY DR. BISE AND THE FACULTY AS THE POUNDSTONE LECTURER FOR I HAVE ATTENDED MANY POUNDSTONE LECTURES OVER THE YEARS AND AM CERTAINLY HUMBLED TO HAVE MY NAME MENTIONED WITH SOME OF THE OUTSTANDING LEADERS OF OUR GREAT INDUSTRY. MANY OF YOU HAVE MET AND KNOW WHAT I SOMETIMES REFER TO AS MY FIRST WIFE, CAROL. WE WILL CELEBRATE OUR 46TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY NEXT MONTH. OVER THE YEARS A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE TOLD HER SHE IS A TRUE SAINT AND WILL GO TO HEA YEN BECAUSE OF PUTTING UP WITH ME ALL THESE YEARS. SHE'S GOING TO HEAVEN ANYWAY BECAUSE OF HER LIFE AND BEING A TRUE CHRISTIAN SINCE EARLY CHILDHOOD. GOD HAS TRULY BLESSED AND WATCHED OVER US OUR ENTIRE LIVES. IN MARCH 2010 I BECAME A CHRISTIAN AND FULLY INTEND SPENDING ENTERNITY WITH BOTH OUR SAVIOR AND ALSO MY WIFE. IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN I URGE YOU TO NOT HESITATE. IT IS NOT JUST A LIFE CHANGING DECISION BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY A DEFINITE LIFE SAVING DECISION THAT WILL CARRY YOU TO AND THRU ETERNAL LIFE. THERE IS NO DISCRIMINATION IN AGE, SEX, COLOR OR NATIONALITY TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN. LIFE'S BIGGEST DECISION IS WHAT YOU DO WITH JESUS. NONE OF US KNOW WHEN OUR TIME CARD WILL BE PUNCHED. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORT ANT DECISION YOU WILL EVER MAKE!

7 I READ A DAILY DEVOTIONAL TITLED OUR DAILY BREAD. IT IS TRULY AMAZING HOW MANY DAYS THE READING WILL HIT YOU BETWEEN THE EYES AS TO WHAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED OR IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING IN YOUR LIFE. THIS MORNING THE TOPIC WAS LOVE TO TELL HIS STORY AND IT READS: I'M THANKFUL FOR THE ASSURANCE WE CAN HAVE THAT WE WILL BE WITH JESUS AFTER WE DIE IF WE HAVE TRUSTED IN HIM TO FORGIVE OUR SIN. THERE IS NO GREATER HOPE. IT IS NOW OUR PRIVILEGE TO SHARE THAT HOPE WITH AS MANY AS WE CAN. FIRST PETER 3:15 ENCOURAGES US: "... ALWAYS BE READY TO GIVE A DEFENSE TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS YOU A REASON FOR THE HOPE THAT IS IN YOU, WITH MEEKNESS AND FEAR." WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FROM GOD, AS DAVID SAID, TO "CALL UPON HIS NAME; MAKE KNOWN HIS DEEDS AMONG THE PEOPLES' (1 Chron. 16:8). THE STORIES OF SO MANY PEOPLE WE LOVE ARE NOT YET ENDED, AND THE PRIVILEGE TO TELL THEM ABOUT THE LOVE OF JESUS IS A GIFT MOST PRECIOUS. MEN LOOK AT THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE AND VARIOUS LEVELS OF SUCCESS AND NO DOUBT THAT IS IMPORTANT BUT GOD LOOKS AT THE HEART AND THAT IS MOST IMPORTANT. ON THE BACK OF MY BUSINESS CARDS IT READS; IF YOU MEET ME AND FORGET ME, YOU'VE LOST NOTHING. IF YOU MEET JESUS CHRIST AND FORGET HIM, YOU'VE LOST EVERYTHING. MOST OF YOU KNOW MY CAREERS PATH BUT JUST BRIEFLY; THIS MONTH MARKS MY 47TH CONTINUOUS YEAR IN MINING EQUIPMENT AND RELATED SALES BUSINESS. COAL HAS BEEN IN THE KIDD FAMILY THE PAST THREE GENERATIONS AND I'M PROUD TO SAY OUR SON DAVID IS CARRYING ON THE

8 TRADITION AS THE FOURTH. HE HAS TWO BACHELORS DEGREES IN BUSINESS, A GRADUATE OF CINCINNATI SCHOOL OF MORTUARY SCIENCE AND A CERTIFIED FUNERAL DIRECTOR. HE DECIDED ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO TO TAKE THE RED HAT CLASSES, WORKED AND GOT HIS BLACK HAT, TOOK ALL THE EMT CERTIFICATION CLASSES, JOINED THE MINE RESCUE TEAM, BECAME A CERTIFIED ELECTRICIAN AND CONTINUES TO WORK AT UNITED COALS AFFINITY COMPLEX NEAR BECKLEY. HE HAS PICKED UP THE MINE NICKNAME OF "UNDERTAKER". OUR DAUGHTER, MELISSA WORKS IN THE FAYETTE COUNTY PROSECUTORS OFFICE. WE ARE BLESSED WITH FOUR GRANDSONS RANGING IN AGES I STARTED MY CAREER WITH LONG-AIRDOX COMPANY IN SEPTEMBER 1967 AND WAS THERE 30 YEARS IN VARIOUS SALES POSITIONS, SPENDING THE LAST 15 YEARS AS VICE-PRESIDENT SALES. I JOINED CONTINENTAL CONVEYOR IN 1997 AND IN 2007 THEY WERE ACQUIRED BY JOY MU\fiNG MACHINERY. I REMAINED THERE UNTIL OCTOBER 2012 AT WHICH TIME I WAS GIVEN A NON NEGOTIABLE SEPARATION PACKAGE ON THE LAST DAY OF MINEXPO IN LAS VEGAS. MY WIFE AND I LEFT LAS VEGAS THE NEXT DAY ON A PLANNED VACATION TO MAUL WHILE TRAVELING, WE DISCUSSED OUR SITUATION AND JOINTLY AGREED THAT IF THE GOOD LORD WANTED ME TO CONTINUE WORKING, HE WOULD MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN. WE WERE ALREADY REGISTERED FOR WVCMI FALL MEETING AT THE GREENBRIER IN MID OCTOBER. AS WE WERE PREPARING TO PLAY GOLF FRIDAY AFTERNOON A FRIEND WHOM I MET WHILE HE WAS A MINING ENGINEERING STUDENT HERE AT WVU BY THE

9 NAME OF KEVIN DICKEY CAME UP AND SAID HE UNDERSTOOD I HAD LEFT JOY. I TOLD HIM NO, THEY LEFT ME. WE BRIEFLY DISCUSSED MY FUTURE PLANS AND I TOLD HIM r WASN'T READY TO RETIRE. HE SAID HE WOULD LIKE TO HIRE ME TO TAKE HIM THROUGHOUT THE COAL INDUSTRY INTRODUCING HIM TO VARIOUS PEOPLE HE HAD NEVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET. HE CALLED MY CELL PHONE ABOUT HALFWAY THRU THE ROUND AND SAID HE HAD GOTTEN APPROVAL TO HIRE ME. WE MET IN THE LOBBY AFTER GOLF AND ARE FINISHING UP THE SECOND YEAR OF WORKING TOGETHER. WE HAVE TRAVELED THROUGHOUT THE U.S. COAL INDUSTRY INCLUDING TWO TRIPS TO AUSTRALIA. ISN'T IT AMAZING HOW GOD WORKS? AS I MENTIONED KEVIN IS A 1993 GRADUATE OF MINING ENGINEERING HERE AT WVU. HE IS CURRENTLY VICE-PRESIDENT OF GLOBAL MINING FOR QUAKER CHEMICAL CORPORATION AND IS IN AMSTERDAM ATTENDING A GLOBAL SALES CONFERENCE. WITH HIS HARD WORK, EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND PERSONALITY, HE WILL CONTINUE TO BE HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL. KEVIN IS ONE OF THE MANY YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN THAT WE HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING HERE OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS. WE HAVE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED AND CHERISH SPENDING TIME THROUGH CLASS ROOM PRESENTATIONS, FIELD TRIPS TO BOTH SURFACE AND UNDERGROUND OPERATIONS, PROFESSIONAL COAL RELATED MEETINGS AND "FELLOWSHIP" AT VARIOUS COAL SHOWS. IT IS TRULY GRATIFYING TO TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE INDUSTRY AND SEE THE GREAT NUMBER OF THESE FOLKS FROM WVU MINING ENGINEERING IN

10 SO MANY KEY POSITONS WITH VARIOUS COMPANIES IN BOTH COAL AND AGGREGATE. WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT I WOULD WIND DOWN MY CAREER WORKING FOR A FORMER STUDENT AND ALUMNUS OF WVU MINING ENGINEERING, MIGHT ADD THAT NOT ONLY HAVE WE BEEN GOOD FRIENDS SINCE THE EARLY 90'S, TOGETHER HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL. BY THE WAY, I WORKED FOR A REAL GENTLEMAN AT LONG-AIRDOX BY THE NAME OF MIKE TORRE AND ONE OF THE THINGS HE SAID OVER THE YEARS I WILL NEVER FORGET WAS; "YOU MEASURE A MANS SUCCESS IN HOW HE HANDLES SUCCESS". THE MORE YOU THINK OF THIS, THE MORE IT REALLY MEANS. (REPEAT) "YOU MEASURE A MANS SUCCESS IN HOW HE HANDLES SUCCESS", EACH OF US WANT TO BE OR HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL. NO ONE WANTS TO LOSE. SHOW ME SOMEONE WHO ENJOYS LOSING AND I WILL SHOW YOU A REAL LOSER. WE LEARN BY MISTAKES, WE SOMETIMES WILL MAKE BAD DECISIONS BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, MAKE A DECISION. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN THE CONSEQUENCES OF BEING INDECISIVE ARE WORSE THAN MAKING A DECISION. SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISIONS WHICH HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO OUR FREEDOM WAS DONE BY GENERALS OF OUR MILITARY; GENERAL EISENHOWER, PATTON, BRADLEY AND MONTGOMERY TO NAME A FEW. MY FATHER WHO BY THE WAY WAS IN THE INVASION OF NORMANDY BEACH ON D-DA Y, JUNE 6, 1944 GAVE ME A COPY OF A SHORT NOTE GENERAL DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER WROTE THE NIGHT BEFORE THE INVASION. HE HAD

11 TUCKED IT INTO HIS POCKET. IT WAS ONLY TO BE RELEASED TO THE PRESS IN THE EVENT THE INVASION WAS A FAILURE. IN ONE OF HISTORY'S FACINATING "WHAT IF'S" THIS HANDWRITTEN DOCUMENT IS ON DISPLAY AT THE NATIONAL D-DAY MUSEUM IN NEW ORLEANS. IT READS: "OUR LANDINGS HAVE FAILED TO GAIN A SATISFACTORY FOOTHOLD AND I HAVE WITHDRAWN THE TROOPS. MY DECISION TO ATTACK AT THIS TIME AND PLACE WAS BASED UPON THE BEST INFORMATION AVAILABLE. THE TROUPS, THE AIR AND THE NAVY DID ALL THAT BRAVERY AND DEVOTION TO DUTY COULD DO. IF ANY BLAME OR FAULT ATTACHES TO THE ATTEMPT IT IS MINE ALONE." DURING THIS INVASION AND MANY OTHER CONFLICTS WE HAVE LOST TENS OF THOUSANDS OF BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE MADE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE DUE TO DECISIONS MADE TO INSURE OUR FREEDOM. IT STANDS TO REASON WHEN OUR OPTIONS ARE LIMITED IN OUR DECISION MAKING PROCESS, THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE LIMITED AS WELL. IT TAKES NOT ONLY IN DEPTH OBSERVATIONS BUT EXTENSIVE EXAMINATION OF THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY AFFORD. YOU CANNOT LOOK BACK AT THE "WHAT-IFS". WHAT EVER OBSTACLES YOU FACE OR WHATEVER DECISIONS YOU MAY HAVE TO MAKE ARE MUCH EASIER TO FACE WITH GOD ON YOUR SIDE. EACH YEAR WHEN SPENDING TIME WITH THE STUDENTS I COMMEND THEM FOR MAKING THE DECISION TO ENTER THE COAL INDUSTRY. UNDERSTAND ONE OF THE LARGEST CLASSES THIS YEAR IN MINING ENGINEERING IS OVER I 00. AS HARD AS THEY ARE TRYING TO ELIMINATE COAL,

12 I FEEL THEY WILL NEVER SUCCEED. GOD PUT THAT PRECIOUS MINERAL IN THE EARTH FOR MAN TO USE. IT WILL NOT BE EASY BUT IF IT WAS, ANYONE COULD DO IT. WE MUST CONTINUE TO RESEARCH FOR ALTERNATIVES BUT AT THE PRESENT THERE IS NOTHING AVAILABLE TO COMPLETELY REPLACE THE 40% ELECTRICITY PRODUCED FROM COAL. ALSO TELL THEM, WHATEVER AREA THEY DECIDE TO PURSUE FOR THEM NOT TO GO INTO MINING EQUIPMENT SALES WHEN I STARTED IN 1967 I WAS 6' 2" TALL, WEIGHED 150 POUNDS AND HAD A HEAD OF JET BLACK HAIR. LOOK WHAT IT WILL DO TO YOU. I HAVE A SHORT STORY BUILT AROUND THE GAME OF GOLF I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU. IT'S CALLED "THE BACK NINE HOLES". YOU KNOW... TIME HAS A WAY OF MOVING QUICKLY AND CATCHING YOU UNA WARE OF THE PASSING YEARS. IT SEEMS LIKE JUST YESTERDAY THAT I WAS YOUNG, JUST HAVING KIDS, AND EMBARKING ON LIFE WITH MY WIFE. YET IN A WAY, IT SEEMS LIKE EONS AGO, AND I WONDER WHERE ALL THE YEARS WENT. I KNOW THAT I LIVED THEM ALL. I HAVE GLIMPSES OF HOW IT WAS BACK THEN AND OF ALL MY HOPES AND DREAMS. BUT HERE IT IS... THE BACK NINE OF MY LIFE AND IT CATCHES ME BY SURPRISE... HOW DID I GET HERE SO FAST? WHERE DID THE YEARS GO AND WHERE DID MY YOUTH GO? I REMEMBER WELL SEEING OLDER PEOPLE THROUGH THE YEARS AND THINKING THAT THOSE OLDER PEOPLE WERE YEARS AWAY FROM ME AND THAT I WAS ONLY ON THE FIRST HOLE AND THE BACK NINE WAS SO FAR OFF THAT I COULD NOT FATHOM IT OR IMAGINE FULLY WHAT IT WOULD BE LIKE. 7

13 BUT, HERE IT IS... MY FRIENDS ARE RETIRED AND GETTING GRAY AND BALD... THEY MOVE SLOWER AND I SEE AN OLDER PERSON NOW. SOME ARE IN BETTER AND SOME WORSE SHAPE THAN ME... BUT, I SEE THE GREAT CHANGE... NOT LIKE THE ONES THAT I REMEMBER WHO WERE YOUNG AND VIBRANT... BUT, LIKE ME, THEIR AGE IS BEGINNING TO SHOW AND WE ARE NOT THOSE OLDER FOLKS THAT WE USED TO SEE AND NEVER THOUGHT WE'D BECOME. THIS I DO KNOW, THAT WHEN IT'S OVER ON THIS EARTH... IT'S OVER AND WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT ADVENTURE... YES, I HAVE REGRETS. THERE ARE THINGS I WISH I HADN'T DONE... THINGS I SHOUD HAVE DONE... BUT THERE ARE MANY THINGS I'M HAPPY TO HAVE DONE. MOST OF ALL BECOMING A CHRISTIAN. I TELL FOLKS GOD LEFT ME HERE FOR A REASON, I JUST HAVE TO KEEP PRAYING AND TRUSTING AND HE WILL SHOW ME. THE DEVIL DON'T WANT ME AND THE LORD'S NOT READY FOR ME. IT'S ALL IN A LIFETIME. IF YOU'RE NOT ON THE BACK NINE YET... LET ME REMIND YOU, THAT IT WILL BE HERE FASTER THAN YOU THINK. SO, WHATEVER YOU WOULD LIKE TO ACCOMPLISH IN YOUR LIFE, PLEASE DO IT QUICKLY! DON'T PUT THINGS OFF TOO LONG!! LIFE GOES BY QUICKLY. DO WHAT YOU CAN TODAY, AS YOU CAN NEVER BE SURE WHETHER YOU'RE ON THE BACK NINE OR NOT! YOU HAVE NO PROMISE THAT YOU WILL SEE ALL THE SEASONS OF YOUR LIFE... SO, LIVE FOR TODAY AND SAY ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT YOUR LOVES ONES TO REMEMBER, AND HOPE THAT THEY APPRECIATE AND LOVE YOU

14 FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR THEM IN ALL THE YEARS PAST!! "LIFE" IS A GIFT. THE WAY YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE IS YOUR GIFT TO THOSE WHO COME AFTER. MAKE IT A FANTASTIC ONE. LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY! HAVE A GREAT DAY. REMEMBER "IT IS HEALTH THAT IS REAL WEALTH AND NOT THOSE PIECES OF GOLD AND SILVER". FINALLY CONSIDER THIS: ~YOUR KIDS ARE BECOMING YOU... BUT YOUR GRANDCHILDREN ARE PERFECT... SO FAR! ~GOING OUT IS GOOD... COMING HOME IS BETTER! ~YOU FORGET NAMES... BUT IT'S OK BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE FORGET THEY EVEN KNEW YOU!!l ~YOU REALIZE YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO BE REALLY GOOD AT ANYTHING LIKE GOLF. ~THE THINGS YOU USED TO CARE TO DO, YOU ARE NOT AS INTERESTED ANYMORE, BUT YOU REALLY DO CARE THAT YOU AREN'T AS INTERESTED. ~YOU SLEEP BETTER ON A LOUNGE CHAIR WITH THE TV ON THAN IN BED. IT'S CALLED "PRE-SLEEP". ~YOU MISS THE DAYS WHEN EVERYTHING WORKED WITH JUST AND "ON" AND "OFF" SWITCH. ~YOU TEND TO USE MORE 4 LETTER WORDS..."WHAT?"..."WHEN?" ~WHAT USED TO BE FRECKLES ARE NOW LIVER SPOTS. Q

15 ~EVERYBODY WHIPSERS!!!..YOU HAVE COME TO EXPECT THAT PEOPLE WILL REPEAT WHAT THEY JUST SAID TO YOU. ~YOU HAVE 3 SIZES OF CLOTHES IN YOUR CLOSET... 2 OF WHICH YOU WILL NEVER WEARAGAIN. BUT OLD IS GOOD IN SOME THINGS: OLD SONGS, OLD MOVIES, AND BEST OF ALL, OLD FRIENDS. IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED. TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU'VE EVER BEEN, YET THE YOUNGEST YOU'LL EVER BE, SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS. GOD BLESS YOU, MY FRIENDS, AND I AM PROUND TO CALL YOU, "MY FRIENDS". THANK YOU 10