Joe Usibelli Jr.

• Author: Hollander, Zaz
• Position: SPECIAL SECTION: Junior Achievement--2013 Alaska Hall Of Fame Laureate Inductee

Joe Usibelli Jr. grew up around his family coal mine--literally, in the thick of it. The family home of the 54-year-old president of Usibelli Coal Mine Inc. sat in the middle of the mine camp.

This year, Usibelli marks his 25th year as president of the company, located near Healy. He represents the third generation of his family to run the state's only working coal mine. His Italian-born grandfather, Emil, started the company. His father, Joe Usibelli Sr., took over at 25 after Emil died in a mine accident.

But Joe Jr. always felt that he had a choice of professions growing up. He and his wife, Marilyn, are giving their 9-year-old daughter, Lexi, the same freedom.

"I had my choice. Even as late as the start of college I had my choice what I wanted to do," Usibelli said in a November interview. "We've always had our choice. You chose to stay."

Making the right choice about a profession is also one of the lessons Usibelli brought to the classroom when he participated in elementary and junior high visits through Junior Achievement. The Alaska nonprofit brings community volunteers into the classroom to educate students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.

That combination of business acumen and dedication to Junior Achievement's programs won Usibelli a spot in the Alaska Business Hall of Fame.

Nominated by their peers, Usibelli and three other business leaders will be inducted Jan. 24 at the Dena'ina Civic & Convention Center. Junior Achievement of Alaska Inc. and Alaska Business Monthly sponsor the annual event.

Deep Roots

Usibelli's roots start in Italy. His great-grandparents, grandfather and grandmother's family immigrated to the United States just after the turn of the 20th century, during a period when Italians streamed to the U.S.

They came through Ellis Island and moved to Washington state, working mines in the Renton and Cle Elum areas.

Emil Usibelli came to Alaska in 1935, working the Evans Jones Mine in Sutton for about a year before moving to the Healy coal mine then operated by Austin "Cap" Lathrop. An injury ended that job.

However, Emil, described by his grandson as a hard worker--started a business cutting timbers for mine supports in the Suntrana mine. During World War II, he got a government contract to mine 10,000 tons of coal per year to increase military supplies beginning in 1943. The contract included a license to mine on property in the Healy area. That's where the Usibelli Coal Mine began.

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