George Holupka

George Holupka
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Born	1923
Died
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Occupation (Mining Specialty)	Coal miner, UMWA activist, community leader
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Notable For

George Holupka was a long-time resident of Nemacolin, Pennsylvania, a 60-year member of United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) Local Union 6290, and a widely respected advocate for miners, pensioners, and widows. Known for his tireless volunteer work and leadership within both the union and the Nemacolin community, Holupka remained active well into retirement.

Early Life and Military Service

Holupka joined the UMWA at age 17 on July 16, 1941, shortly before the United States entered World War II. Within months, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the 98th Signal Battalion under General Douglas MacArthur in the Philippines. He returned home in 1946 after the war.

Mining Career

After returning from military service, Holupka went to work at LTV’s Nemacolin Mine prep plant, where he spent nearly 47 years. He worked as a laborer, coal sampler, and later in water treatment, often seven days a week. He was known for his reliability and dedication, walking to work daily from his home in Nemacolin.

Union Leadership and Advocacy

Holupka remained deeply committed to the UMWA throughout his life. He served as:

Recording Secretary and Treasurer of L.U. 6290
Member of the UMWA Pensioner Leadership Committee
Volunteer assisting widows and older pensioners with benefits, legal issues, and transportation
Advocate for miners affected by layoffs, working with Subdistrict 4’s food bank
Political activist on behalf of UMWA issues
Vice President of the Nemacolin Community Council

Union leaders frequently praised his dedication, describing him as one of the “backbones” of District 2 and a model for both retirees and active members.

Views and Advocacy

Holupka was outspoken about:

the importance of attracting younger workers to the union
the need to protect miners’ health care and pensions
the struggles faced by black lung victims navigating the benefits system

He often emphasized that union membership had profoundly improved his own life and believed strongly in passing that message to the next generation.

Personal Life

Holupka was married to his wife, Patty, for 45 years. Outside of union work, he enjoyed golf and was a long-time Pittsburgh Steelers season ticket holder, attending games for more than five decades.

Notes from Local Knowledge

(Add your own notes here — for example: • His home on ______ Street • Known community stories • Photos you have • Connections to other Nemacolin families • Burial information )

References

UMWA “Actively Retired” profile on George Holupka (summary used for this article)