John L. Schroder, Jr.

John L. Schroder, Jr. joined United States Steel as a junior engineer at the former H.C. Frick Coal Company in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, after graduating from West Virginia University. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1944 until 1948. After leaving the Navy, Schroder continued his engineering career at several coal companies, where he was appointed vice president of coal operations. Schroder was appointed Dean of the former College of Mineral and Energy Resources at WVU until his retirement on June 30, 1991. Schroder has served the State of West Virginia in two important areas. He was on Governor Arch Moore's Energy Task Force which resulted in the establishment of the State Department of Energy, and he chaired the Mine Inspectors' Examining Board for seven years. He has been active and held offices in many social, industrial and professional organizations. He received the Society of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, Inc. Award, conferred the Howard N. Eavenson Award for his outstanding management and administrative abilities in leading a major coal company for three decades. He also received the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers Erskine Ramsey Medal recognizing distinguished achievement in the production, beneficiation or utilization of bituminous or anthracite coal. In recognition of his 53 years of contributions to the coal industry and service to the College of Mineral and Energy Resources, Schroder was honored with the 1995 College of Mineral and Energy Resources Outstanding Alumni Award.