Biography of Rucker Jenkins - Mercer Co. WV The History of West Virginia, Old and New Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, Volume II, pg. 530 RUCKER JENKINS, a representative citizen and progressive business man residing in the City of Bluefield, Mercer County, is Eastern manager of the Great Eastern Coal Com- pany, selling agents for various coal mines in Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky. Mr. Jenkins was born at Graham, Virginia, March 29, 1887, and is a son of O. C. and Lucy D. Jenkins, specific mention of the father being made on other pages of this work. In the year following the birth of Rucker Jenkins his parents came to Bluefield, in 1888, and here he was reared to adult age, his early educational advantages being those of the public schools. Thereafter he completed a three years' course in mechanical engineering at the Vir- ginia Polytechnical Institute. For twelve years thereafter Mr. Jenkins was in the service of the Norfolk & Western Railroad Company, first as secretary to the assistant super- intendent, and thereafter as secretary to the general super- intendent. After leaving the employ of the railroad com- pany Mr. Jenkins was in turn connected with the traffic department of the United States Coal & Coke Company, with the sales department of the Central Pocahontas Coal Company and the Eastern Coal & Export Company. He then became resident manager of the Inter-State Coal & Dock Company, and during the final year of his connection with this concern he had charge of purchasing and shipping large tonnage of coal from the West Virginia fields to tide- water, for exportation to foreign countries. In the World war period Mr. Jenkins gave loyal and effective service as a member of the United States Fuel Administration, in which connection he directed the ac- tivities of various public speakers who were furthering the Government's policy of fuel production and conservation. Mr. Jenkins brings to bear wide experience and resourceful policies in the ordering of the affairs of the important com- pany with which he is now connected as noted in the open- ing paragraph of this review. He is a loyal member of the Bluefield Chamber of Commerce, is affiliated with the Country Club and Old Colony Club, and he and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian Church. November 26, 1910, recorded the marriage of Mr. Jenkins and Miss Martha Bosworth Becker, daughter of William S. Becker, formerly general superintendent of the Norfolk & Western Railroad. Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins have one son, William Becker Jenkins. Submitted by Valerie Crook **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. Files may be printed or copied for personal use only. ****************************************************************