Coggin, Mason

H. (Horace) Mason Coggin was born January 15, 1938 in Bisbee, AZ. He graduated from Bisbee High School in 1956 and received a B.S. in Mining Engineering from the University of Arizona in 1961. He worked for Phelps Dodge Corporation in various states as well as other mining companies until he became senior Vice President of Mining in 1970 for Coe and Van Loo Consulting Engineers in Phoenix, AZ. He held this position until he started his own engineering consulting firm in 1982, specializing in recovery systems, mine evaluation, and plant operations. Coggin was known as a world-renowned expert in gold placer mining and traveled throughout the world to various mines. In addition to a distinguished career as a mining engineer, Coggin developed a life-long interest in Arizona history, lore and legends. He became a member of the Gathering of Cowboy Poets in 1994 after a chance encounter at Prescott's Sharlot Hall. After that meeting he wrote and recited his own poetry. He was a founding member of Trail Dust, a performing group of poetry reciters, singers and songwriters well known for reciting mining and cowboy poetry. He and his wife also co-founded Cowboy Miner Productions, publishing the classic works of cowboy poets like Bruce Kiskaddon, D.J. O'Malley, S. Omar Barker, and Henry Herbert Knibbs. Coggin was also the author of several publications related to mining and cowboy poetry. In 1993, Coggin was appointed Director of the Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources which provided oversight for the development of Arizona's natural resources. He also was instrumental in promoting the growth of the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum. He was married to Janice Coggin and had two daughters, Diane and JoAnn. He died November 7, 2000.