UCC Timeline |
1970
March - United Coal Company began operations as a small surface mining contractor in West Virginia.
June - A second contract operation began in Buchanan County, Va. |
1971
September - United acquired its first rail loading facilities known as Wellmore #1 and Wellmore #3. Wellmore #1 was acquired along with the stock of Wellmore Coal Corporation. Wellmore #3 was acquired from Riverside Coal Company.
October - National Collieries Inc. was formed as a sales agency for United. |
1972
November - Wellmore #2 was acquired from Wise County Coal. |
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1973
March - Wellmore #4 was acquired from Leetown coal.
May - Star Coal Company was purchased.
July - Wellmore #5 was leased from Vansant Coal Corporation.
November - United purchased assets of Buchanan County Coal Corporation in Big Rock, Va. |
1974
January - Wellmore purchased Chris Coal, known as Wellmore #10.
February - United began its mine supply sales division – United Supply Company and Unite Inc.
August - Wellmore acquired the rail facilities of Norma Mining in Tazewell County, Va., known as Wellmore #11. |
1975
April - Wellmore acquired Riverside Coal Company, operating on the Ohio River.
December - Wellmore #7, then a state-of- the-art preparation plant, began operation. |
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1976
June - Wellmore acquired Wellmore #12 on Garden Creek in Buchanan County, Va. |
1977
February - United purchased its first Belfry operation in Burnwell, Ky., known as Belfry #1.
August - United purchased Crystal Coal Corporation in Big Rock, Va., known as Wellmore #14.
December - United purchased Dunavant Enterprises in Hatfield, Ky., known as Belfry #2. |
1978
February - United purchased Dal-Tex Coal Corporation, Sharples, W.Va.
June - Wellmore #8 began operation. |
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1979
February - United purchased White Ash Mining, known as Belfry #3.
April - United formed a new research and development department.
November - United acquired Turquoise Mining Corporation in Paintsville, Ky., known as Belfry #4. |
1980
May - United integrated supply chain with acquisition of Birmingham Bolt Company, a leading manufacturer of roof bolts.
July - United built its first slope mine, Almore #1.
September - United Supply Company expanded to a fourth store in Martin, Ky.
December - The company’s coal safety and training center was completed in Grundy, Va. |
1981
May - United led coal exports at Hampton Roads from the Norfolk pier.
August - Hilltop Energy Corporation began operations in Dorton, Ky.
September - United’s Virginia Division acquired Kentucky properties, including Wellmore #17 and Wellmore #18 preparation plants. |
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1982
January - United Supply Company sold its subsidiary, Unite Inc., to Austin Powder Inc.
August - Belfry Coal Corporation purchased Temco Coal Inc. in Johnson County, Ky. |
1983
March - United acquired overseas offices known as Unicoal AG. |
1984
April - Patrick Coal Corporation, known as Wellmore #20, was acquired.
July - United expanded into real estate with the formation of UCC Realty Corporation.
August - United sold Birmingham Bolt Company, retaining a minority equity position.
October - United diversified into oil and natural gas, opening another new division, United Oil & Minerals Inc., in Austin, Texas. |
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1985
October – December - United purchased three oil and gas companies: Gold Lake Resources, Expetro Resources Inc., and Macquest Resources Inc. |
1986
February - United purchased Virginia Metals Industries located in Orange, Va. United also purchased Magoffin County Coal Company as part of the Tri-State Division.
November - United purchased the outstanding 51 percent of Lonesome Pine Fuels Inc. |
1987
January - United Coal Company reorganized and created a new parent company, The United Company, to recognize United’s expansion into other businesses.
March - United Coal Company purchased Knox Creek Coal Corp., and added reserves to the Virginia Division; United Energy Company (parent company of the oil and gas operations) acquired Star Oil & Gas, Ltd. (Calgary), a Canadian oil & natural gas producer. |
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1988
April - Belfry purchased assets of Grace Coal Corporation. |
1989
December - United Supply Company purchased Central Supply Company. United also purchased the Southwestern Coal Corporation properties. |
1990
September - Tri-State Division sold its interest in coal leases in Magoffin County, Ky., and related coal supply agreements. |
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1992
April - United sold Dal-Tex Coal Corporation to Ashland Coal Inc.
June - United sold Wellmore #21, Belfry #8 and Belfry #2 to A. T. Massey Coal Company Inc. |
1997
August - The United Company sold United Coal Company to A. T. Massey Coal Company Inc. |
2002
March - United Oil & Minerals (UOM) acquired South Texas natural gas assets from El Paso Energy.
August - UOM changed its name to United Resources; expanded South Texas natural gas production. |
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2003
April - United Energy sold stock of Star Oil & Gas to Arc Resources, a large publicly- traded Canadian royalty income trust.
December - United Resources sold South Texas natural gas assets to Westport Resources Corporation. |
2004
July - The United Company bid to acquire all assets of Horizon Natural Resources in Chapter 11 bankruptcy auction.
October - United reacquired United Coal Company name and formed “new” United Coal Company, LLC; United Coal bought permitted reserves in Randolph and Upshur counties, W.Va., and renamed them Carter Roag Coal Company.
December - United acquired assets of former Golden Oak Coal Company and Cook & Sons Mining in Letcher County, Ky., and renamed operation Sapphire Coal Company. |
2005
January - Production began at Pleasant Hill mine at Carter Roag Coal Company.
April - United Coal Company hired five executives from Global Energy Management, planned for expansion to five million clean tons of annual production.
June - United Coal Company began North Star One, LLC, a highwall mining joint venture in Raleigh County, W. Va.
July - Corporate office of United Coal relocated to Charleston, W.Va., area.
October - United Coal Company leased 30 million tons of high volatile Sewell coal reserves at Carter Roag from Natural Resource Partners.
November - United Coal acquired certain assets of White Mountain Mining, LLC, Beckley, W.Va., including 60+ million tons of low volatile reserves in the Pocahontas coal seams; renamed operation Pocahontas Coal Company, LLC.
December - UCC received first “outside” investment from SJ Strategic Investments, LLC, and Gregory Energy Partners, LLC, private equity investment companies founded by Bristol businessmen John and Joe Gregory. |
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2006
January - UCC acquired The Rapoca Group, Bristol, Va., including 30+ million tons of mid/high volatile Splashdam, Banner & Hagy seam reserves; renamed operation Wellmore Coal Company, LLC. |
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