The Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration presents its Distinguished Member Award to a select few who have distinguished themselves through notable contributions to the technology and professional activities encompassed by the Society and the Industry.

Through an extensive nomination and selection procedure, Michael C. “Mike” Korb has been designated as one reaching this qualification. 

The Society will install him as a Distinguished Member, Class of 2018, during the SME’s 2018 Annual Awards Dinner on February 28, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Korb is a Legion of Honor Member of SME and has actively participated in SME organizations since joining in October 1961. 

He was a member of the student chapter at the University of Pittsburgh, where he received a Women’s Auxiliary of the American Institute of Mining Engineers scholarship; at Ohio State University and at University of Missouri Rolla where he was an officer of the Rolla Chapter. 

He has been an active member of the Lehigh Valley, Upper Peninsula (MI), Penn-Anthracite, and Sierra Nevada Sections, and has over 30 years in leadership roles, as a past Vice Chairman of the Sierra Nevada, and Board Member, past Vice Chairman, past Section Delegate, past Chairman and past Secretary/Treasurer of the Penn-Anthracite Section. 

Korb has been and continues to be a strong advocate of SME, Mining and the Anthracite Industry to the public.

Korb graduated from the University of Missouri-Rolla, now the Missouri University of Science and Technology, as a Mining Engineer in 1968. 

Mike promised his wife Pat a life of adventure, and they’ve spent almost 52 years moving to some 15 homes while he worked in mining and mining-related technical, administrative, supervisory, management, executive, sales, professional, and consulting jobs; working for Bethlehem Mines, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and a Rolodex full of jobs in bituminous coal, iron ore, copper, limestone, industrial sand, and slag as well as more than 20 years in anthracite.

Korb serves on the Board of Directors of the Eckley Miners’ Village Associates and the Anthracite Heritage Museum & Iron Furnaces Associates.  He is also Vice President and Director of the Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation and Director Emeritus of Ashland Community Enterprises (Pioneer Tunnel).

He is retired from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation, and is working part-time with Tetra Tech, Inc. 

Most of his time is now spent working with anthracite mine heritage and environmental nonprofits.

A longtime resident of Pennsylvania, he was born in Butler, lived in Bradys Bend and Sugarcreek as a child and attended the University of Pittsburgh. 

He has worked in Bethlehem, Bridgeport, Annville, Hanover, Ebensburg, Nanty Glo, Tamaqua, White Haven, and Wilkes-Barre. Mike and Pat lived in Bethlehem, Ebensburg and Hazleton, and now live in Hobbie, Luzerne County with their orange cat Moochie. 

Their son Matthew and his wife Jessie live in Los Angeles, and their daughter Kathleen and husband Ashley live in York.

Past SME Distinguished Members from Pennsylvania include—

2015 - Jeffery L. Kohler

2015 - Alan A. Campoli

2011 - Francis Martino

2010 - Dan Alexander  lives in WV teaches at Pitt

2009 - Thomas A. Gray

2007 - John O. Marsden

2006 - Barbara J. Arnold

2005 - John N. Murphy

2002 - R. Larry Grayson

2000 - James W. Boyd

1998 - Nikhil C. Trivedi

1997 - Richard E. Gray

1990 - Jan M. Mutmansky

1990 - David R. Maneval

1989 - Stanley C. Suboleski lives in VA

1989 - Raja V. Ramani

1987 - Robert L. Frantz (deceased)

1987 - John T. Boyd Sr. (deceased)

1985 - Ralph E. Bailey (deceased)

1978 - Frank F. Aplan

1976 - Thomas V. Falkie

Walter D. Haentjens (deceased)

For more information on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events, visit the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration website.

[Posted: August 1, 2017]

8/7/2017