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David Zegeer Obituary

ZEGEER David Abraham. Longtime Lexington resident David Abraham Zegeer, a mining engineer and former Assistant Secretary for the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), died December 10, 2012, at age 90, in his home with his wife by his side. The visitation will be held on Thursday, December 13, from 5-9pm at the Kerr Bros. Funeral Home at 3421 Harrodsburg Road in Lexington, KY. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held on Friday, December 14 at 10am at the Cathedral of Christ the King. David Zegeer was born on August 27, 1922, in Charleston, WV to A.K. and Amelia Zegeer. After attending West Virginia University and serving in World War II, he became a mining engineer and then division manager of Consolidation Coal Company and Beth-Elkhorn Corporation in Jenkins, KY, until 1977. During his 30-year career, he was active in various state and national coal associations to promote mine safety and health and received countless awards and recognition from his peers. After his retirement from active mining, Mr. Zegeer focused on the promotion of mine safety and health for coal miners. He served on the National Academy of Sciences' Committee on Underground Coal Mine Safety and was confirmed as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health on November 18, 1983. During his confirmation hearing for head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, West Virginia Senator Randolph asked Mr. Zegeer where he was born. Never missing an opportunity to make friends or to tell a joke, Mr. Zegeer quipped, "Almost Heaven." His tenure as Assistant Secretary in the Reagan Administration was just as successful. During his three-year tenure, he made remarkable progress in safety for US mining. Mr. Zegeer ensured that nearly one-half million workers at more than 18,000 mines were protected from hazards to their safety and health. With fewer than 100 deaths in coal mining, this was the first time in U.S. history that the number of fatalities had ever decreased to those levels. He also represented the mining industry in debates with Robert Kennedy and Richard Trumpka and participated in MSHA senate hearings with Senator Ted Kennedy as chair. After he returned to private consulting, Mr. Zegeer served as a member and chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Appalachian Regional Hospitals. As an educator, author and historian, Mr. Zegeer coauthored a book for the National Coal Mining group and created a documentary on the history of Jenkins. He was recognized for his contributions to the coal mining industry and to the region with the David A. Zegeer Railroad and Coal Mining Museum built in his honor. He maintained lifelong ties to the coal industry and remained active in documenting his contribution to mine safety until the last days of his life. Mr. Zegeer is survived by his wife of 36 years, Louise Jimm Zegeer; brother, Harry Zegeer; his three children and their spouses: John and Annie Zegeer, Charlie and Sharon Zegeer, Aileen and Gerry Salters; and four grandchildren: Fr. Eric Zegeer, Brian Zegeer, Carolyn Zegeer and Kevin Zegeer. He was preceded in death by his siblings: Victor, Ernest, Aileen, Evelyn, Alice and Loreese; and his first wife, Margaret Corey. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the David A. Zegeer Scholarship Fund, at the University of Kentucky, to assist mining engineering students from Letcher County.

Published by Lexington Herald-Leader on Dec. 12, 2012.
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Memories and Condolences
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Louise,

You have my deepest sympathy. Take comfort in our Lord, in knowing that you are so loved.

Your cousin,
Maryann Hanna Latouf

January 22, 2013

David Zegeer was an icon in the mining industry, going forth with a shining beacon for mine safety. He did not know a stranger; when I was a young mining engineer, David would always warmly speak to me even though we were not immediate acquaintances. He always imparted great wisdom at the many seminars I attended when he spoke. And he spoke volumes because of his experience and beliefs that mining and safety could go hand in hand. He will be greatly missed in the coal mining community. My prayers go out to his family; beyond a great coal miner, he was an even greater person. We will miss you, Mr. Zegeer.

Randy Moore

December 13, 2012

Dear John and family,
I know that no words can come even remotely close to healing the pain that you feel. My heart goes out to you in this difficult time. Your dad was a wonderfulm man and you are very lucky that you had him in your life.
Love,
Sylvia Moreno

Sylvia Moreno

December 13, 2012

The family of Warnie Flint, Jr. would like to offer our sincere condolences to Dave's family. He was such a important man to our family and we really appreciate it. The town of Jenkins was very fortunate to have him be such a wonderful leader in our community. Again, we're very sorry!

December 13, 2012

Louise: I am so sorry to hear about Dave's passing. He was a mentor for me and many other coal miners. He set an example for everyone he came in contact with and it was a great lose to the coal industry. His example in insisting on doing things right has saved many lives- only God knows. Our prayers for you during this difficult time but we all know where Dave is now and can be joyous for him and his family.
Jim Justice

December 12, 2012

I knew and worked with Dave for many years. Sorry to hear of his passing.
God's peace.

Jack Crawford

December 12, 2012

Louise,
I was saddened to hear of Dave's death. He was a wonderful, wonderful man and a wonderful friend to our family. We all loved him very much! My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Love,
Barbie (Campbell) Wright

Barbie Wright

December 12, 2012

I pray for God's perfect will for all those affected by Dave Zegeer's passing on.

His compassion and devotion to people was fabulous.

I am grateful for getting the opportunity to meet him a few times. And Dave Zegeer's work on Earth lives on through mine safety laws, the documentary on Jenkins, the museum, etc.

I hope you can take some comfort from your memories and knowing that your loss is heaven's gain.

James Gibson

December 12, 2012

Dear Louise
So sorry for your loss. I so enjoyed working for Dave at DoL and our continued contact after we both left the agency. Whatever sucess I had in my career, I owe in large part to Dave's advise and counsel over the years.
God bless
Joe & Louise LaMonica

Joseph & Louise LaMonica

December 12, 2012

Family:

Jeanne joins me in expressing our deepest sympathy on your great loss, as Dave was loved and respected by everyone. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this extremely difficult period.

James Codell

December 12, 2012

Our sympathy and prayers go out to David's family at this most difficult time. He was ever a gentleman, and it was a real privilege to have been a colleague of David's over these many years.

Tom FitzGerald, Director
Kentucky Resources Council

Tom FitzGerald

December 12, 2012

Sorry to hear about your dad. Hope you are comforted by God's Spirit.

Doyle Caudill

December 12, 2012

So sorry for your loss. He was an icon to the coal idustry and will never be forgotten. As a former Beth-Elkhorn employee and a native Letcher Countian, we were truly blessed to have been a part of his life.

Cathy Frazier

Cathy Frazier

December 12, 2012

John and Charlie,

I'm so sorry to hear about your father. My prayers are with you and your family.

~Bill

Bill Sampson

December 12, 2012

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