# Joseph W. Craft III

> Joseph W. Craft III, known as Joe Craft, is the chairman, president and CEO of Alliance Resource Partners. A Hazard, Kentucky native with accounting and law degrees from the University of Kentucky, he led the 1996 management buyout of MAPCO’s coal division and has led ARLP since its 1999 public debut. His philanthropy includes UK athletic facilities, the Craft Academy at Morehead State and support for free-enterprise research.

- **Role:** Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer at Alliance Resource Partners, L.P.
- **Organizations:** Alliance Resource Partners, L.P., BOK Financial Corporation, National Mining Association, America’s Power, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Joseph W. Craft III Foundation
- **From:** Hazard, United States
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** BS in Accounting, University of Kentucky, JD, University of Kentucky College of Law, Senior Executive Program (executive education), MIT Sloan School of Management
- **Known for:** Led the 1996 MAPCO coal-division management buyout., Helped take Alliance Resource Partners public in 1999., Received the 2008 Ernst & Young Southwest regional Entrepreneur of the Year award in energy, chemicals and mining.

## Career timeline

- **Before MAPCO** — Attorney at Falcon Coal Corporation and Diamond Shamrock Coal Corporation.
- **1986** — Became president of MAPCO Coal; also held senior legal and financial positions at MAPCO.
- **1996** — Led the management buyout of MAPCO’s coal division, creating Alliance Coal.
- **1999** — Alliance Resource Partners went public; Craft became president, CEO and director in August.
- **2007** — Joined BOK Financial’s board.
- **2014** — Became chairman of BOK Financial’s compensation committee.
- **2019** — Became chairman of Alliance’s board on January 1.

## Achievements

- Led the 1996 MAPCO coal-division management buyout.
- Helped take Alliance Resource Partners public in 1999.
- Received the 2008 Ernst & Young Southwest regional Entrepreneur of the Year award in energy, chemicals and mining.
- Inducted into the Gatton College Alumni Hall of Fame and UK Hall of Distinguished Alumni in 2010.
- Named 2026 William D. Gorman Humanitarian of the Year in Hazard.

## Latest updates

- **2026-09** — Named William D. Gorman Humanitarian of the Year at Hazard and Perry County Civic Night.
- **2026-08** — Kentucky Power Foundation announced a $25,000 grant supporting the Craft Academy Scholarship Fund established by Joe and Kelly Craft.
- **2026-07** — Alliance reported Q2 results and completion of a $206.2 million oil and gas mineral-interest acquisition on July 1.
- **2025-08** — The Crafts and Central Bank shared a $10 million winning charity ham bid, contributing $5 million each.

## Links

- Website: https://www.arlp.com/about-us/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/joseph-craft
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23