Tribute to Dallas Chaffins

TRIBUTE TO DALLAS CHAFFINS -- (Extensions of Remarks - October 07, 2004)

SPEECH OF
HON. HAROLD ROGERS
OF KENTUCKY
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2004

Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dallas Chaffins, an upstanding resident of the Fifth Congressional District of Kentucky. Chaffins, a 73-year-old coal miner in Eastern Kentucky, has been working underground for 56 years without ever having a lost-time injury. This remarkable accomplishment has earned him numerous awards and commendations, and I believe he deserves our recognition as well.

Born in Big Rock, Virginia, Dallas Chaffins started working in the coal mines on April 5, 1948, at the Buchanan Coal Company. Although he was only 17-years-old then, he had already been working for 6 years with his father in the timber industry. It's obvious that Dallas had a strong work ethic instilled in him from the time he was a little boy.

Throughout the next 6 decades, Dallas worked determinedly in the mines. During his career, he only took 2 years off, from October 1951 to October 1953, so he could serve his country in the United States Marine Corps.

And he's not quite ready to throw in his helmet yet.

He still rises each morning long before the sun does and heads to the mines to greet his coworkers with a handshake and a smile. You see, Dallas is known as much for his friendly disposition as he is his impeccable safety record. He attributes this characteristic to his devout faith in God. "I believe if a person keeps his own conscience clean that he will shine on the outside," he recently told a reporter for a Kentucky newspaper. "I think the Lord has blessed me with this. Yes, I give him all the credit."

In addition to being a friend and mentor, and source of joy to countless miners throughout the years, Chaffins has reared 12 children and now enjoys spending time with 26 grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my colleagues and myself, I want to congratulate Dallas Chaffins on 56 years of tireless, careful service in the mines. His hard work and integrity is an inspiration to others, both young and old, and Eastern Kentucky is a better place because of him.