Blankenship to Retire

Blankenship at Massey Christmas Party

UPDATE 12/10/10 @ 4:50 p.m.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) -- West Virginia mine safety officials say retiring Massey Energy chief Don Blankenship is refusing to testify in the investigation of the Upper Big Branch mine explosion.

Deputy Director Eugene White says the Office of Miners' Health Safety and Training received a document Friday saying Blankenship will exercise his Fifth Amendment rights to avoid self-incrimination.

White says Blankenship had been subpoenaed to testify Tuesday about the April 5 blast in southern West Virginia that killed 29 men and injured two.

Other Massey employees have also refused to speak to investigators.

The company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Blankenship announced last week he's retiring from Virginia-based Massey at year's end.

The North Carolina Department of State Treasurer says Massey improved its corporate governance practices by naming Bobby Inman chairman Friday.

Inman will take over when Chairman and Chief Executive Don Blankenship's retirement takes effect Dec. 31. Massey announced Blankenship's departure Friday. It has promoted President Baxter Phillips Jr. to CEO.

North Carolina, the California Public Employees Retirement System, Office of Connecticut State Treasurer and New York City Employees' Retirement System issued the joint statement Tuesday. They all own Massey stock.

Hundreds of kids welcomed Christmas a few weeks early, picking out holiday presents as part of Massey Energy's annual Christmas Extravaganza.

The party has been helping underprivileged kids for years as a way of giving back to the community.

"Massey is here and this is home for us," Massey's Vice President of Human Resources Jeff Gillenwater said. "We live here, we work here and we're all these people's neighbors and we want to support them this time of year and just help them out."

"Today is the best day ever!" Brooklyn Perry exclaimed.

While for kids like Brooklyn, the holiday party may be all about the fun stuff -- but for Blankenship, this is goodbye.

Blankenship is retiring at the end of this year, stepping down after years of scrutiny.

"I think it's really going to be a sad thing to lose Don to retiring," Nathan Williamson said. "He's a great guy, helps the community a lot and really looks out for his community."

"He has served his purpose," Doug Hensley said. "I think it's time that Massey takes on a new face."

Blankenship's face is used to finger pointing after ethical questions about campaign contributions, deaths at the Aracoma mine, and perhaps his darkest day as CEO, when 29 men were killed in an explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County.

Blankenship refused to speak to WSAZ.com on camera at the Christmas party.

Investigators say Blankenship's retirement as head of Massey will not interfere with him testifying this month in a state and federal investigation about that explosion at Upper Big Branch.

Blankenship has been subpoenaed to appear in Beckley December 14 for that hearing.

Other Massey employees have refused to testify, citing their fifth amendment rights.

Blankenship has been under fire recently for many controversies, including the April 5 explosion at Massey's Upper Big Branch Mine in Raleigh County, which killed 29 men.

There was also controversy surrounding his close ties with justices on the West Virginia Supreme Court. Justice Spike Maynard voted in favor of Massey Energy in a case before the high court -- and when pictures of him vacationing with Blankenship surfaced, he eventually recused himself.

Blankenship also funneled millions of dollars into the election campaign of Justice Brent Benjamin -- who also recused himself from a case involving Massey Energy.

Effective Friday December 3, according to Massey, Baxter F. Philips Jr., Massey Energy President, will succeed Blankenship as CEO. Philips has been with Massey Energy since 1981, according to a press release. Massey says Admiral Bobby Inman, Lead Independent Director on the Massey Board will succeed Blankenship as Non-Executive Chairman. He has been a director since 1985.

"After almost three decades at Massey it is time for me to move on," Blankenship said in a prepared release. "Baxter and I have worked together for 28 years and he will provide the company great executive leadership. Most of all, I want to thank the Members of Massey Energy whose hard work supports not only their own families, but also contributes greatly to the entire community of Central Appalachia."

According to Massey, under Blankenship's leadership the company has grown from 3,662 employees to more than 7,300.

Blankenship has led Massey Energy since 2000, and has been with the company since 1982.

Blankenship's retirement will be effective December 30, 2010.