Published: November 07, 2008 10:51 pm      

Community leader Eustace Frederick dies at 78

BLUEFIELD — One of the region’s most admired and highly respected leaders on the civic, political, industry and religious fronts, Eustace Frederick, died at his home shortly after midnight on Friday morning. He was 78.

Frederick came from the most humble of circumstances in the coalfields and through his personal determination and hard work, elevated himself into one of the most powerful positions of leadership in the southern West Virginia and southwestern Virginia coalfields.

When he retired from Consol Coal after 40 years of service, Frederick re-invented himself as a powerful political force in the West Virginia Legislature. He was appointed by Gov. Gaston Caperton on Oct. 17, 1993, to complete the un-expired term of Delegate Bill Carper, and remained in that office at the time of his death, although he did not seek re-election for a seventh term due to a respiratory illness.

“Delegate Frederick proudly served the citizens of West Virginia for many years,” Gov. Joe Manchin III said in a prepared statement. “He was a respected legislator who will be missed by his friends and constituents in Mercer County and at the capitol. As a legislator and as governor, I was fortunate to be able to work with him. My thoughts and prayers are with Eustace’s family and loved ones as they go through this difficult time.”

Frederick was in Bill Carper’s thoughts Thursday night. “I was in Blacksburg, Va., for the Hokie game (Thursday) night, and I walked over to where he usually parked and didn’t see his car,” Carper said. “He was really in my thoughts.”

Carper characterized Frederick as “a cool guy” who absolutely stood by his convictions and was respected for his personal tenacity. “He was such a class act,” Carper said. “Mercer County was well-served during his tenure in office.”

Frederick was born the son of Russian immigrant parents on Aug./ 29, 1930, in what he described as “a four-room shack” in Delta Hollow near Switchback, McDowell County. Frederick graduated from Elkhorn High School in 1948 where he had excelled in football. His football prowess drew the attention of the Virginia Tech football coaching staff who offered Frederick a scholarship. Frederick played four years, earned his degree in mining engineering in 1952 and took a job with Consol.

Frederick moved through the ranks rapidly at Consol. He served in various leadership roles and was instrumental in developing equipment and mining techniques that reduced some of the dangers coal miners faced. At the time of his retirement, he was vice president of Consol’s Southern Appalachian Region. During the last years with Consol, Frederick focused his attentions on developing the Pocahontas No. 3 coal seam in Buchanan County, Va., and worked on developing a coalbed methane venting process that would reduce the danger of explosions in deep coal mines. Coalbed methane has evolved into an important aspect of Consol Energy’s sales.

“We just lost an absolutely fabulous American and a devoted West Virginian,” Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association said. “His honesty and integrity set a standard for the legislature and the coal industry. He was just an exquisite individual who will be missed. It was such a blessing that he lived to see his Hokies win (Thursday) night and to see the election of a candidate to fill the seat he held.”

Tom Colley, executive editor of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph thought of Frederick as a strong leader. “He was a great person and a great public servant,” Colley said.

Tom Hoffman, senior vice president of Consol, said West Virginia lost a great coal leader, and a great lawmaker.

“I think Eustace Frederick was a consummate mining engineer, and he embodied all of the best things about Consol Energy,” Hoffman said. “Perhaps more important in his career after he retired from Consol, he demonstrated his love for all things West Virginia through his years of service in the Legislature. He will be missed by everyone in the Consol family, but I also think West Virginia is losing a great man as well.”

Marc Meachum, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce said Frederick was “a passionate supporter of the coal mining industry” and supported the chamber’s biennial Bluefield Coal Show as well as the Coal Symposium on the Coal Show’s off years.

“In fact, the Coal Symposium was his idea,” Meachum said. “He was very, very well thought of by people in the coal industry as well as in the legislature. He had a tremendous level of respect for the chamber, and would often call here to discuss the position of the chamber’s membership on various issues.”

Rick Taylor, president of the Pocahontas Coal Association, said Frederick was a true coal industry leader.

“I felt like he was one of the most respected coal leaders we have in our area, and he touched many people in the McDowell, Mercer, and Wyoming county areas,” Taylor said. “The Pocahontas Coal Association members and member companies would like to send our condolences to his family. We would like to thank him for his positive leadership in the coal industry.”

Frederick was preceded in death by his wife, Frances Q. “Frankie” Frederick (Mendora) and is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Charlotte “Carrie” Frederick Frost and her husband Matthew of Charlottesville, Va., and Eustace “Stacy” Frederick III of Bluefield. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m., Monday at St. Mary Orthodox Church in Bluefield. Seaver Funeral Home of Princeton is serving the family.

— With additional reporting by Charles Owens