March 10, 2024 - Respected mining manager, Hershiel Hollis Hayden, Sr., 82, passed away on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Hospice Care at CAMC Memorial Hospital in Charleston, W. Va.

Hershiel was born in Paonia, Colo., he lived in Big Stone Gap for eight years, then Knoxville, Tn. for several years and had lived in Kincaid, WV since 2011. He served in the U. S. Marine Corps and attended the U. S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. He worked in the coal mining industry for 50 years. He was an enrolled citizen of the Cherokee Nation.

Hershiel was well-known and respected in coal mining circles and spent many years as Divisional Superintendent of Westmoreland Coal Company in Big Stone Gap, VA. During that time, he pioneered longwall mining in thin seams and was the first to produce excellent production figures from a 42- inch thick low seam longwall.  He was appointed President of Westmorland’s Eastern Operations in Virginia and West Virginia and later took leadership positions with Blue Diamond and Arch Coal (now Arch Resources).

Hershiel Hollis Hayden

“Hershiel worked his way through the ranks of Westmoreland Coal in Colorado, eventually becoming President of their Eastern Operations,” said Jim Marianski, retired President of Dosco Corporation. “He was innovative, productive and personable. We had a forty-year friendship and I will miss him forever!” 

“Once in a while in life one meets a great character with an individual personality that you never forget and Hershiel was one of those,” added Bill Reid, former President of American Longwall and Managing Editor of CoalZoom. “He will always be remembered for his drive, ambition and great sense of humor. He will be missed.” 

Hayden was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Deborah Kelly Hayden; son, Shawn Trusten Hayden; daughter, Trustine Ellen Hayden; and parents, H. Jack Hayden, Sr. and Helen McCallister Hayden.

Surviving are his son, Hershiel Hayden, Jr. and wife Cindy of Duffield, Va.; daughter, Carrisa Dunaway and husband Jacob of Knoxville, Tn.; ten grandchildren and three great grandchildren; brothers, H. Jack Hayden, Jr. and wife LuAnn of Aurora, Colo. and Brad Hayden and wife Judy of Kingwood, Tex.; one nephew and two nieces.

A graveside service will be announced at a later date.

The family requests memorial donations be made to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, P. O. Box 676910, Dallas, TX 75267-6910.

Gilliam Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to serve the Hayden family.

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