About Byron Tucker Jr.

Nicholas County Roots

My name is Byron Tucker, Jr. I was born and raised in Nicholas County, West Virginia, and I graduated from Nicholas County High School in 1980. After graduation, I went straight to work — beginning a career that would span more than four decades in mining, safety, public service, and community volunteerism.

In December 1981, I married my wife, K Lee Willman. Together we raised two sons. Our oldest served in the United States Marine Corps before retiring, and our younger son works in the private sector.

Military Service

I am a United States Navy veteran. My military service reinforced the values of discipline, responsibility, teamwork, and service to others — principles that have carried through every chapter of my professional and community life.

I have also volunteered with a program supporting veterans experiencing PTSD by introducing participants to metal detecting. I helped provide equipment, instruction, and guidance, giving veterans an opportunity to build camaraderie and learn a new skill in the outdoors.

A Career Built Underground

I entered the coal mines immediately after high school. Underground, the rules were simple: you watch your partner's back, or somebody doesn't come home. I gained hands-on experience with mining operations, machinery, electrical systems, and workplace safety — including serving as a preshift examiner, helping ensure assigned areas were safe before workers entered.

In the mid-1980s, work took me to Prince George's County, Maryland, where I worked as an industrial electrician and mechanic at a regional distribution center, maintaining electrical and mechanical systems and production equipment. In 1996, I came home to West Virginia and returned to underground coal mining.

Keeping Miners Safe

In 2004, I joined the West Virginia Office of Miners' Health, Safety and Training. I developed and delivered mine safety training, taught hazard recognition and emergency-response procedures, and worked with miners from throughout southern West Virginia. Those classes weren't about checking a box — they were about making sure a miner could recognize danger before it became a tragedy.

Later, I served with MSHA, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, conducting federal mine safety inspections throughout West Virginia, enforcing federal standards, and working directly with miners and operators to identify hazards and improve workplace safety. I carried that responsibility until March 4, 2020, when a disabling stroke forced me into retirement.

Union Service & Labor Advocacy

I have been a proud member of UMWA Local 8843. Active participation in the United Mine Workers gave me firsthand experience with the concerns of working men and women — workplace safety, wages, working conditions, and the importance of having workers' voices represented.

I also served with the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 3181 — as a member, steward, and Executive Vice President — representing federal employees and advocating for fair treatment and safe working conditions. I understand what union representation means in communities like ours, where a union card isn't politics — it's protection.

A Lifetime of Emergency Service

Since 1981 — more than four decades — I have served as a volunteer emergency medical technician and firefighter. I served with the Upper Marlboro Volunteer Fire Department in Prince George's County, Maryland; the Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department in Calvert County, Maryland; and the Keslers Cross Lanes Volunteer Fire Department here in Nicholas County, where I helped during the establishment of Station 7 and assisted in soliciting donated firefighting equipment from departments in Maryland.

I also coached and officiated youth football with the Boys & Girls Clubs in Dunkirk, Maryland, helping provide young athletes with structure, supervision, and positive community involvement.

Since 2022, I have volunteered with the West Virginia Gold Star Mothers Bridge Ride, honoring Gold Star families and remembering the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

Still Serving

That stroke ended my full-time career — but it did not end my service.

Today I continue to teach mine safety part-time with New River Safety Training, sharing more than four decades of practical mining, inspection, and regulatory experience with today's miners. My goal is simple: pass along knowledge that can help workers recognize hazards, make good decisions, and return home safely.

My wife and I also help manage and maintain a local community cemetery — preserving an important part of our community's history and honoring those who came before us.

Why I'm Running

I am not entering public service without experience. I am bringing a lifetime of it.

I have worked underground in the coal mines. I have maintained industrial equipment. I have trained miners. I have inspected mines. I have represented working people. I have served as a firefighter and EMT. I have served our country. I have volunteered in my community.

I believe leadership should come from people who understand the work, understand the community, listen to the people, and are willing to serve. West Virginia was built by working people who kept their word and looked out for one another. That's how I was raised. That's how I worked. And that's the kind of leadership I bring.

Photos