Johnson, Wynn

A lot of young men are proud to follow in their father's footsteps, but Wynn Johnson of Plymouth, Minn., knew better than to become a coal miner, one of the most dangerous professions there is. Before he was born, Johnson's father had been injured so badly in a coal mining accident he was disabled. His paternal grandfather had also been crippled in a coal mining accident and his grandfather on his mother's side had been killed.

So, on Sept. 9, 1971, with a high school diploma under his belt, Johnson left his hometown of Weeksbury, Ky., and headed out into the world to seek his fortune. He