LANCASTER, Ohio (November 10, 1999) -- The Pittsburgh Coal Mining Institute of America (PCMIA) recently honored Hugh H. "Luke" Lucas, vice president-mining operations, American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), with its Donald S. Kingery Memorial Award. The award recognizes an individual who has contributed significantly to the improvement of mine safety and health during his or her career in the coal industry. John N. Murphy, visiting research professor at the University of Pittsburgh, presented the award during a luncheon at the SME/PCMIA 1999 Joint Meeting, on Oct. 28 in Washington, Pa. "Luke has been a strong leader who can be found at the heart of any successful safety and health culture," Murphy said. "He displayed outstanding leadership in developing a closer, more meaningful relationship among management, labor and government in all aspects of health and safety. "Based on his sustained contributions to the industry, PCMIA is pleased to present this award." A native of Bluefield, W.Va., Lucas is responsible for the operation of the AEP coal mines and coal preparation plants. He joined the AEP Fuel Supply Department in January 1984 as vice president-planning and engineering. During his AEP tenure, employees at the company's underground mines improved their safety performance to the point where the operations were consistently recognized as the best in MSHA's intermediate safety rate category among the nation's top 25 underground coal producers (MSHA rankings, 1992-1997, and first half of 1999). Among other accomplishments, he initiated ergonomics committees and close-call injury prevention programs at each of the facilities he supervises that includes three underground mines, a surface mine, four coal preparation plants and related maintenance and administrative operations. "To develop a successful safety program, our primary objective was to develop an efficient change management organization that could be trusted by the work force and that would have a 100 percent commitment and total employee involvement," he said. "We were convinced that labor and management working together could eliminate most of the dangerous activity that can develop in the daily performance of their jobs, and the results of our efforts bear that out." Lucas began his mining career with the Bethlehem Mines Corporation in 1959. His career also included a variety of positions with Consolidation Coal, North American Coal and Island Creek Coal before he joined AEP. A graduate of Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg, Va., Lucas holds a bachelor's degree in mining engineering. He is a registered professional engineer in the states of Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Lucas is presently chairman of the Ohio Coal Association and past chairman of the West Virginia Coal Association (WVCA). He currently serves on the WVCA's executive committee. He is also a member of the Old Timers Club. He has served as president of the Board of Directors of the Fairfield County (Ohio) YMCA, and is currently serving as a member of the Fairfield County United Way Board of Trustees. AEP, a global energy company, is one of the United States' largest investor-owned utilities, providing energy to 3 million customers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. AEP has holdings in the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Australia. Wholly owned subsidiaries provide power engineering, energy consulting and energy management services around the world. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio. On Dec. 22, 1997, AEP announced a definitive merger agreement for a tax-free, stock-for-stock transaction with Central and South West Corp., a public utility holding company based in Dallas.