Sam Church Jr., who became the president of the United Mine Workers of America through succession in 1979, is making his first bid for election to the job this year. The 46-year-old Church came up through the ranks. In the 1970s he got a job at the union's international headquarters in Washington, D.C., working as a bodyguard and personal assistant to former UMW President Arnold Miller.

Photo is dated 1982.

Photo measures 8 x 10.75 inches.