HEMAN DRUMMOND Heman Drummond, an innovative miner, well driller, farmer, barber, and risk-taker, was known for his hard work, honesty, and compassion. In 1935, at age 30, he founded the H.E. Drummond Coal Company in Drummond Hollow, Alabama, on land homesteaded by his mother. Despite financial struggles during the Great Depression and World War II, his perseverance laid the foundation for what became one of Alabama’s largest businesses. Drummond’s coal production started small, but after purchasing a coal-cutting machine in 1937, it grew. He also expanded into surface mining, land and mineral acquisition, which helped the company prosper. Drummond’s honesty earned him respect, even among competitors, and he relied on credit and personal assets to keep the business afloat. By 1956, Drummond had built a strong foundation for his company but passed away at age 50. His five sons and two daughters carried on his legacy, and today Drummond Company employs 3,300 people worldwide. Drummond’s vision, hard work, and generosity left a lasting impact, both in his community and in the coal industry. His friends remembered him as a kind, dependable man, and his legacy continues through his family’s success.
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