University of Kentucky head basketball coach John Calipari has a history with the coal mining industry.
His family, especially his grandfather, worked as a miner in Clarksburg, W.Va., when the industry was at its peak. Other family members followed.
During Saturday night’s Blue-White scrimmage a Pike County miner rushed from his job to make sure his son was there in time to watch his blue-clad Cats. His day began at 4:45 a.m.
A photo on the internet of Michael Joe McGuire, who is employed by Alliance Coal/Excel Mining, LLC, caught Calipari’s attention and tugged at his heart.
He went on social media asking BBN to help him identify the coal miner.
Mission accomplished.
Calipari is treating the McGuire family to a VIP experience at Rupp Arena to watch his team play this coming season.
McGuire and his son were among the 7,000 fans in attendance at the game, which raised $162,450 for flood victims of eastern Kentucky.
