Contact: Melissa Reifert
September 14, 2007

VMA Establishes MECC Foundation Scholarship in Honor of Shackleford

The Virginia Mining Association (VMA) has established an endowed scholarship through the Mountain Empire Community College Foundation in honor and remembrance of Dink Shackleford. The scholarship will assist MECC students majoring in environmental science, mining, manufacturing and processing.

Shackleford was a strong advocate of higher education and was recently a student at the Appalachian School of Law. He joined the VMA after working for several years as a Public Administration Specialist for the Mount Rogers Planning District Commission, where he was assigned to the Town of Damascus.

A native of Lee County and the son of a coal miner, Shackleford served the VMA as Executive Director, using every opportunity and method to promote the coal industry whether in southwest Virginia, Richmond, or Washington, D.C. As a founding and continuously serving board member of the Coalfield Water Development Fund for over 10 years, he helped raise and award over $3.3 million in grants for water projects in 40 separate communities throughout southwest Virginia.

Shackleford was an active member of the community, involved with organizations such as the Norton Kiwanis Club, where he was a driving force behind area stream cleaning projects, the establishment of a bicycle race, the development of the Chief Benge Walking Trail, and the lighting of Flag Rock. He most recently served as the keynote speaker at the dedication of the new Southwest Virginia Regional Cancer Center in Norton.

“Whatever goal Dink set – whether it was overcoming a barrier caused by injury or illness, or achieving a goal for the VMA, he never gave up,” said VMA President Harry Childress. “Because of his positive attitude, he always prevailed and commanded tremendous respect from others.”

For more information about the Virginia Mining Association Scholarship, contact the MECC Foundation at (276) 523-7493. Gifts may be made to the scholarship, and sent to the attention of Donna Stanley, Mountain Empire Community College Foundation, 3441 Mountain Empire Road, Big Stone Gap, Virginia 24219.

Dink Shackleford, shown in this photo by photographer Tim Cox, is being honored and remembered by the Virginia Mining Association through an endowed scholarship established with the Mountain Empire Community College Foundation. The VMA Scholarship will assist MECC students majoring in environmental science, mining, manufacturing and processing.

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