Dr. Charles A. Beasley

Dr. Charles A. Beasley, Saddle River, NJ, expectantly entered life's next dimension on September 10, 2020. He was born in Summerlee, WV, on November 3, 1934, to Emerson McKinley and Maude (Gwinn) Beasley. Like his father and grandfathers, Charles enjoyed a long and rewarding career in the minerals industry. His achievements spanned the worlds of advanced education, engineering, corporate leadership, the federal government, environmentalism, volunteerism, advocacy, theology, poetry, and loyal friendship. Charles received undergraduate and graduate degrees summa cum laude in Mining and Minerals Engineering from Ohio State University, a Doctorate of Minerals Engineering with a minor in Law from the University of Minnesota, and a Master of Theology from Colgate Rochester Seminary. He was elected to the Engineering Honorary Tau Beta Pi at OSU and was a Phi Sigma Kappa member. Dr. Beasley held faculty positions at Ohio State, Virginia Tech, the University of Alaska, McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and was an adjunct professor at the Colorado School of Mines. He served as Professor and Chair of Mining Engineering at the Missouri School of Mines, where he was also Acting Director of the Explosives Research Laboratory. Notably, Dr. Beasley was Professor and Chair of five combined Engineering, Technology, and Education programs at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Buffalo. He served concurrently as Director of the Center of Environmental Research and Education and as Director of the offcampus Industrial Effectiveness Program for Manufacturing. While at SUNY, he was awarded a National Science Foundation grant to build a water research station on Lake Erie. His corporate involvements include mining engineering duties at Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. in PA, OH, and WV; Senior Engineer for Dravo Corporation in Denver; Director of Mining for Law Engineering in Atlanta; and Manager of Eastern Mining Operations for Nuclear Utility Services. As a charter member of the Federal Government's Senior Executive Service (SES), Charles helped establish the Office of Surface Mining within the U.S. Department of the Interior, under the Carter and Reagan administrations, to regulate the environmental effects of mining in the United States. As such, Dr. Beasley served as Regional Director for WV, PA, MD, & VA; as Assistant Director in Washington to implement the abandoned mine land reclamation program; and as Special Assistant to the Director, Conservation Division, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA. Dr. Beasley co-founded two corporations: Geonomics Associates in Fairbanks, Alaska, to provide consultation concerning the petroliferous potential of the North Slope, and Resource Recovery and Reclamation (3R Corp) in Denver to provide mining services. He authored more than 50 publications and presentations and served as a consultant for more than 60 energy, mining and manufacturing interests. He proudly consulted for the Crow Nation in Montana, the World Bank project in association with Oklahoma State in Jordan, lectured on Engineering Ethics in Germany, and served Spanish business interests. He established several funds at the Beckley Area Foundation in Beckley, WV, to fund West Virginian students' educational needs, and expressed so much appreciation for his life-long friendships within the very talented Woodrow Wilson Class of 1952. In retirement, Charles served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for Abused and Neglected Children (CASA) and enjoyed writing 'really bad verse' for family, friends, and special events. The Mining Industry Hall of Fame named him Poet Laureate of the Mining Industry for 2002. Charles predeceased his parents, Emerson McKinley and Maude (Gwinn) Beasley, and his siblings Marguerite, Robert, Arlene, and William (Bill) Beasley. He is survived by Dr. Frances (Sayre) Beasley, his life-long friend, eternal soul-mate, and wife of 43 years; his children Carol (Jim) Griffin of Saddle River, NJ, David Beasley of Canon City, CO, and Kathryn (Kirk) Johnson of Westminster, CO; niece Barbara Beasley and nephews John and Bill Beasley all of Beckley, WV; his grandchildren Miles, Tristan (Chihiro) and Fletcher (Bryn) Johnson; Kara Griffin and Alexandra (Basel) Hajal; Jordan Charles Beasley and Olivia (Michael) Clouse, and their mother, Monica Nedbalski. Of particular note is his first great-grandchild Theo James Hajal, born March 6 this year, who Charles pledged to protect from this dimension and beyond, and who provided him with boundless joy every day. Above all, Charles was loyal, steadfast, humorous, and held himself to the highest standards. He was a leader, mentor, benefactor, advocate, and loyal friend. He is and will continue to be sorely missed by all. A private graveside service, time yet determined, will be held at Sunset Cemetery in Beckley, WV. Charles' wish was that any who would celebrate their shared memories with him do so through a dedicated act of kindness for another.