Harry LaViers Jr. ’51

Harry LaViers Jr. was born Aug. 26, 1929, in Paintsville, Ky., to Harry and Maxie Auxier LaViers. He graduated from Culver Military Academy in 1947. At Princeton he majored in mechanical engineering, belonged to Terrace and the Flying Club, and roomed with Pete Bunce, Howard Cyr, and Freeman Jelks.

Harry and Barbara Sue Purple were married in 1952. After service in the Army Signal Corps, he and Sue moved back to Paintsville, where Harry began work with the South-East Coal Co., his family business. Over the years Harry built several new mines in Letcher County and the central coal-preparation plant for South-East in Irvine, Ky. Upon the death of his father, he became president of South-East in 1978. He retired in 1994.

Harry served on the governing boards of Morehead State University, Berea College, Centre College, and Culver Military Academy and established a scholarship program for South-East employee children. Eventually more than 180 students graduated from college under the program.

Harry died June 23, 2016, after a 12-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He is survived by his wife, Sue; their children Elizabeth (Beth) Owen, Henry, Donald, and Stephen; six grandchildren including Joe Owen ’04 and Amy Minnick ’09; and five great-grandchildren.