Compton made major contributions to the coal industry over the years, pioneering surface mining and land reclamation techniques mid-century. He was the founder of the Grafton Coal Company in 1942.

Compton invented the first coal auger machine, which was heaped with praise in 1957 when it was used to drill and escape route for five Ohio miners trapped underground, Associated Press said.

Compton was an avid inventor, with side-dump trucks and the Compton Flexible Miner being put to his name.

In 1998, Compton was one of the first people to be inducted into the West Virginia Coal Hall of Fame at West Virginia University.