"An environmental activist from West Virginia who fought a coal-mining technique that flattened mountains, died on Sunday at age 66, according to his foundation."

"Larry Gibson, who spent decades trying to halt the mining practice known as mountaintop removal, in which the tops of mountains are shaved off to access the coal below, died after suffering a heart attack on his beloved Kayford Mountain in West Virginia, his Keeper of the Mountains Foundation said in a statement.

'Larry traveled across the country, to schools, churches and a wide range of public gatherings where he spread his simple gospel about the mountains: 'Love em or leave em; just don't destroy em,'' the statement said."

Cynthia Johnston and Stacey Joyce report for Reuters September 10, 2012. [2]