Robert L. Raines

Robert L. Raines graduated from the West Virginia University School of Mines. He began his career as a time study engineer at Deerfield Mine of American Coal Company in 1956. He joined the Tralee Operation at Semet-Solvay Division, Allied Chemical Corporation in 1956, where he ultimately held positions of mining engineer, chief industrial engineer, assistant mine superintendent and superintendent before leaving in 1966 to accept a position with Pocahontas Land Corporation as mine inspector. He held positions of mining engineer, engineer-special projects, manager-special projects, assistant general manager, general manager and vice president before being named president of Pocahontas Land in 1987. Raines served on numerous business, professional, education and civic organizations. He served as 1981 Chairman of the Central Appalachian Section of the Society of Mining Engineers and of the American Institute of Mining Engineers and its Executive Board. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the West Virginia Mining and Reclamation Association, Board of Directors of the National Council of Coal Lessors, Board of Directors of the West Virginia Coal Association, Board of Directors of Kentucky Coal Association, Advisory Board of the National Institute on Mining, Health and Safety Research and the National Coal Policy Council of the American Mining Congress. He also served on the Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Bluefield, West Virginia, and has served on advisory boards of the mining schools at WVU and Bluefield State College. Raines was commissioned a prestigious Kentucky Colonel by Governor John Y. Brown in 1980 and won the Coal Pacer of the Year in 1992 presented annually by West Virginians for Coal. He was given the Distinguished Member Award in 1995 by the Society of Mining Engineers. He was also presented with the Distinguished West Virginian Award by Governor Cecil Underwood in 2000. Raines was appointed to serve as alumni representative of the 1979-1980 Athletic Council by then President, Doctor Gene Budig. While serving that two-year term, Raines was chairman of the search committee that selected West Virginia and National College Football Hall of Fame Coach Don Nehlen, WVU's head football coach. Raines was awarded special recognition for distinguished service to WVU Athletics for his work on the Council. He is a life member of the WVU Alumni Association.