Soul of 78: David Muncher
How opportunities-aligned with passion-led to a fulfilling career in the coal industry.
Words by Anna Lee Vaughn | Images by Ryan McGill
When David Muncher was a high school senior, his family friend, Bob Wilson, posed a thought-provoking question: "David, what do you want to do with your life?" David expressed interest in both engineering and accounting. Mr. Wilson then inquired, "What if you could do both?" This pivotal conversation would ultimately steer David's career path toward one of the largest coal companies in the world.
"I didn't realize it at the time, but certain moments can leave an indelible mark on the course of your life," David reflects.
David is originally from Empire, Alabama – a small town steeped in a rich coal mining history. Growing up, David lived near Empire's old underground mines and maintained strong ties with friends and family members who were involved in the mining industry.
David's journey led him to Calhoun Junior College in Decatur, where he played baseball before transferring to The University of Alabama to play football. There, he obtained a degree in Mineral Engineering with a specialized focus on mining, and later completed a master's in business administration.
"When I graduated, I only wanted to work at one place; I never interviewed anywhere else. There was some availability at Drummond Company for new engineers, so I applied for a job, interviewed, and began working there in June 1984."
For five years, David held various engineering roles before transitioning to the operational side of the business. He navigated numerous positions, ranging from foreman to superintendent and even administrative roles — locally and at Drummond Company's location in Colombia, South America.
Today, he serves as Senior Vice President of Operations Support. In this role, David oversees the support activities for both global and domestic operations at Drummond, specifically focusing on new project development, maintenance, and engineering functions.
David reflects on his journey, saying, "I've always heard that a person's greatest ability is their availability. I was born in an area of coal mining. I was born in an area with a good mining engineering program. I could go to a school I loved. I was born in an area with a mining company such as Drummond Company to work for."
"So, I had all these things lined up, and if I had chosen something different, I may have missed my purpose. Today, I sit here doing the things that I love to do. That's why I'm here. I want to take full advantage of it and do the best I can." 78