Marshall University loses one of its most accomplished, generous and loyal sons.
On July 4, 2019, the Marshall University family lost one of its most accomplished sons when Chris Cline died in a tragic helicopter crash in the waters just off the island of Big Grand Cay in the Bahamas. Cline, 60, his daughter Kameron, 22, and five others all perished when the helicopter spun out of control just seconds after takeoff.
“The entire Marshall community is in disbelief and shock over the sad news of this tragic accident that took the life of a prominent Son of Marshall and so many others,” President Gilbert said upon hearing the news. “Our hearts are heavy. Chris’s generosity to our research and athletics programs has made a mark on Marshall University and our students for many years to come. I am praying for his family.”
The billionaire coal magnate was the founder of Foresight Energy LLC. Both his father and grandfather were coal miners near Isaban, West Virginia, where Cline grew up. He learned the industry by tagging along with his father to the mines on weekends and holidays, and built his empire from the ground up.
Although he was listed as one of the wealthiest men in the United States by Forbes, Cline remained humble and often shunned the press. He was passionate about both Marshall and his home state of West Virginia. His once described his home in Beckley, West Virginia, as a playground for his four children.
Known for his philanthropy, the former psychology student at Marshall first contributed $5 million to establish an endowment to support new faculty and scientists in his alma mater’s Sports Medicine Institute. That $5 million was doubled by a match through the West Virginia Research Trust Fund’s “Bucks for Brains” program.
Cline later contributed another $3.5 million to the Vision Campaign — the first major fundraising effort undertaken by Marshall Athletics and the Big Green Scholarship Foundation.
In recognition of his generosity, the university dedicated the Chris Cline Athletic Complex in 2014. The facility features a 120-yard indoor football practice field, as well as a 300-meter track and field oval, the Chad Pennington Hall of Fame, the Buck Harless Student-Athlete Academic Center and the sports medicine institute.
When asked at the dedication about the roots of his generosity, Cline said, “It’s your home state, it’s your family, it’s what you grew up with. You learn that these people are your family, no matter where you move to in life afterwards.
“So, everybody in this state contributed to me getting started and making it in life and I’ll probably never be able to pay them back.”
“Chris Cline was a true Son of Marshall,” said Athletic Director Mike Hamrick. “He was not only a personal friend of mine, he was a friend of Marshall and Marshall Athletics. With the naming of our Chris Cline Athletic Complex to honor his generosity, his dedication to our university and our student-athletics will live on. He was so proud of the complex and was so excited the day we dedicated it. Marshall University Athletics will miss Chris, as will I. He was a vital part of our family.”
“Chris was a friend of mine and of Marshall University,” said Gary G. White, Board of Governors member and former interim president of Marshall. “What he accomplished in the coal mining industry was nothing short of amazing. He started working for his father — a small-contract miner — and rose to be one of the titans in the industry. Notwithstanding his success, he never forgot his humble beginnings.”
Jack Houvouras is the publisher of Marshall Magazine.
Carter Taylor Seaton is a freelance writer living in Huntington.
Photo (below):
Cline speaks to the press at the opening ceremonies of the Chris Cline Athletic Complex in 2014.