Celebrating Illinois Coal Miners
Date/Time
Date(s) - 08/29/2026
1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Categories
Honoring Coal Miners salute August 29, 1 p.m., West Frankfort
The Illinois Labor History Society (ILHS) is saluting Illinois coal miners with a free Union Hall of Honor on August 29 at 1 p.m. at West Frankfort High School, 601 E. Main Street, West Frankfort.
The guest speaker is Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea, who began his labor career as a United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) member.
Since 1981, the ILHS has held a “Union Hall of Honor” to induct significant Illinois labor leaders and justice advocates. The two inductees for this event are John E. Jones and Benny “Chucky” Wilson. Jones was a Welsh immigrant who started in the mines as a child. He completed his education at the University of Illinois and became a mine safety inspector. He is credited with developing and spreading rock dusting to prevent mine fires and explosions during the World War I era. Wilson is an active UMWA retiree with a long mining career, elected as a local union officer multiple times.
Using miners’ oral histories collected by the Illinois Coal Workers & Communities Listening Project, a short theatrical presentation is planned with local high school students, led by Herrin Library’s Jason Hedrick. The Listening Project is an effort by the Climate Jobs Institute at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
The Southern Illinois Central Labor Council is offering three scholarships that day. Any current college student or affiliated apprentice can register. A drawing at the program’s end will award the scholarships – the recipient must be present to receive the award.
This free, public event is sponsored by the Illinois Labor History Society, Illinois Humanities Council, Climate Jobs Institute, the Southern Illinois Central Labor Council, the Special Collections Research Center at the Southern Illinois University library, and the Frankfort Area Historical Society. Retired and active miners and their families are encouraged to attend.
The Illinois Labor History Society is the nation’s oldest popular labor history society, dedicated to preserving and celebrating the legacy of Illinois’ working people.