MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — A former state lawmaker and labor leader is ready to fondly remember the life of former State Senator, West Virginia House of Delegates member and former President of United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Union District 31 Eugene “Gene” Claypole.
Former Senator Mike Caputo addressed the passing of Claypole, in which he spoke highly of the longtime UMWA representative turned politician. A former underground coal miner who eventually worked his way up to President of UMWA District 31, eventually serving in state politics, Claypole is remembered as a generous person who enjoyed living his life in West Virginia.
“Gene was as kind as he was strong, he would give you the shirt off his back,” said Caputo. “But he was a strong union leader who believed firmly in the union movement and did all he could to advance the rights of working-class folks in West Virginia, particularly coal miners,” he said.
Claypole was a father of six who worked in the coal mines for several decades before working into a representative role with UMWA District 31. During his multi-decade tenure with the union, he served as the compensation director of the district, eventually serving as president of the UMWA district for several years. Caputo, who remembers Claypole’s role in keeping workers rights at the forefront amidst some of the most advantageous periods in coal mining history, will fondly reflect on Claypole’s passion for his fellow miners.
“Back in the 70s and 80s we had some really tough times, and there was a lot of wildcat strikes going on, times were pretty wild,” said Caputo. “To maneuver us through that is quite an accomplishment,”
Eugene “Gene” Claypole will also be remembered for his willingness to work with people not only around the coal mines but also with state leaders while he served in two different legislative bodies in Charleston. As a legislator, Claypole served as a member of the West Virginia State Senate from 1991 to 1994 as a representative of the 14th District. After that tenure, he later served for several years on the West Virginia House of Delegates, where Caputo and Claypole also served together.
Claypole’s generosity expanded even when he was a veteran in the legislature.
“He helped me tremendously as a young delegate,” said Caputo. “Learning the ropes, the ins and outs of the legislature, and teaching me the rules in how to get things done down there, so I’ll always be indebted to Gene for that,” he said.
Claypole will leave behind a legacy where he served the public in several different ways in his 86 years of life. Not only in the coal mines and the state legislature, but also as a resident of both Pursglove and Morgantown, where he was known to frequently visit friends and family as part of his normal routine. With memorial services scheduled at a later date, Caputo wants the Mountain State to remember a resident that showed what it is like to live as a West Virginian.
“I would just like to offer my condolences to his family and ask the public to keep Gene and his family in their thoughts and prayers,” said Caputo. “Because he certainly was a tremendous asset to the union movement and the people that he served,” he said.
Claypole passed away at the age of 86 and leaves behind three living children, 16 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.