Joe Craft

Joseph Craft III (born 1950)[2] is an American businessman. He is the president and chief executive officer of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., the third-largest coal producer in the eastern United States.[3][4]

Joe Craft
Joe and Kelly Knight Craft at 2018 US Embassy in Canada Independence Day celebration
Born1950 (age 69–70)
Hazard, Kentucky, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Alma materUniversity of Kentucky (BS, JD)
OccupationBusinessman
EmployerAlliance Resource Partners, L.P.
Net worthUS$1.4 billion (February 2011)[1]
Spouse(s)
Kelly Knight Craft (m. 2016)

Personal life

Craft received an undergraduate degree in accounting in 1972 from the University of Kentucky before earning a JD degree in 1976. During his time at the University of Kentucky, Craft was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Political activism

In January 2012 Craft donated around $500,000 to Restore Our Future, a Super PAC supporting Mitt Romney.[5] On July 11, 2016, Craft hosted a private fundraiser for Donald Trump at the Aviation Museum of Kentucky.[6] Joe, through his trust JWCIII REV TRUST contributed $1,000,000 to the Trump presidential inaugural committee.[7]

Craft's wife, Kelly Craft, previously served as the U.S. Ambassador to Canada,[8] and is the current United States Ambassador to the United Nations appointed by President Trump.[9]

Awards
  • The University of Tulsa, Collins College of Business – 2008 Outstanding Business Leader[10]
  • 2007 City of Tulsa Oklahoma – Hall of Fame[10]
  • Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Southwest Region energy, chemical, and mining category[11]

The Joe Craft Center, a state-of-the-art basketball practice facility for the Kentucky Wildcats men's and women's basketball teams was named for him after he pledged $6 million toward the completion of the project. This was the largest private gift in the history of UK Athletics.[12]

See also

References
  1. "Joseph W. Craft Profile". Forbes. Retrieved February 19, 2011.
  2. "Hazard native gives generously to UK". Hazard Herald. July 18, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  3. "Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. Announces Acquisition of Coal Supply Agreements from Affiliate of Patriot Coal Corporation". Business Wire. January 2, 2015. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
  4. "A Courtside View of Scott Pruitt's Cozy Ties With a Billionaire Coal Baron". The New York Times. June 2, 2018. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 3, 2018.
  5. "Billionaire Joe Craft at nexus of Kentucky basketball, coal and politics". Lexington Herald-Leader. November 4, 2012. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  6. "Donald Trump heading to Kentucky for fundraiser". The Washington Times. June 28, 2016. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  7. docquery.fec.gov/pdf/286/201704180300150286/201704180300150286.pdf. p. 41.
  8. "PN603 – Kelly Knight Craft – Department of State". Congress.gov. Retrieved December 17, 2017.
  9. "Trump picks envoy to Canada Kelly Craft for U.N. ambassador". Reuters. February 23, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  10. Joseph W. Craft III – 2008 Outstanding Business Leader
  11. "Alliance Exec Among Regional Honorees". Tulsa World. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
  12. "UK Athletics Receives Record Gift". The University of Kentucky. August 18, 2006. Retrieved April 13, 2015.
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