America West Resources Appoints Dan Baker as New Chief Executive Officer

Alexander Walker III to Remain Chairman of the Board and Active Senior Advisor to the Management Team 


SALT LAKE CITY, July 11  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- America West Resources, Inc. (OTC:AWSR) (BULLETIN BOARD: AWSR) , a domestic coal producer with mining operations in Central Utah, today announced that Dan Baker, current Chief Operating Officer of the Company, has been appointed by the Board of Directors as America West's new Chief Executive Officer, replacing Alexander Walker III. Walker will continue to serve as the Chairman of the Board and remain active in the Company's day-to-day business activities as a senior advisor to the executive management team.

Commenting on Baker's appointment, Walker stated, "Given Dan's deep industry experience, exemplary management style and notoriety as an executive in the coal industry, we are very pleased to entrust him with the responsibility of leading America West Resources as our new Chief Executive Officer.  Dan has been the driving force behind turning around our Horizon mining operations, expanding our reserve base and cultivating long-term relationships in the industry for our Company.  For all of these reasons, and more, he is the ideal choice to become our new CEO."

Prior to his promotion to CEO, Baker has served as the Company's Chief Operating Officer since August 2007.  He began his business career in mining as a laborer in 1969 following an extended tour of duty with the United States Army in Vietnam.  Baker has earned significant mining tactical expertise serving as a longwall foreman, senior mining engineer, longwall superintendent and manager of underground operations while working for United States Steel Corporation, Kaiser Steel Corporation, Braztah Corporation, Utah Power and Light Company, Emery Mining Corporation and Kaiser Coal Corporation.

In 1987, he joined Interwest Mining Company as Vice President/Operations, overseeing both underground and surface mines in Utah, Wyoming, Washington and Australia for PacifiCorp.  He served on the Interwest Board of Directors and was a member of the mining and fuels team for PacifiCorp's international activities.  Baker became President and Chief Executive Officer of Interwest and Vice President/Fuels for PacifiCorp in January 1998; positions he held until he became Executive Vice President at CONSOL Energy in November 1999. At CONSOL Energy, he provided overall leadership, strategic direction and management oversight of all mining operations, intent on producing quality coal at a low cost and while complying with the highest safety standards. Under Baker's leadership, CONSOL Energy operated 28 mines, producing over 72 million tons of coal per year.  Baker began providing consulting services to energy companies in 2002.  In September of 2006, he joined Hidden Splendor, America West's subsidiary and operator of its Horizon coal mine.

"I feel very privileged to be assuming the helm of America West Resources and look forward to working with Alex, the Board and our talented management team to optimize our Company's tremendous growth potential," noted Baker.

About America West Resources, Inc.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, America West Resources, Inc. is an established domestic coal producer focused on the mining of clean and compliant (low-sulfur) coal and its sale primarily to U.S. utility companies for use in generating electricity.  Since 2003, the Company has extracted over 1.4 million tons of coal from its owned and operated Horizon Coal Mine based in Central Utah.  For more information, please visit http://www.americacoal.com/.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Please refer to the Company's Form 10-KSB and other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") for additional information regarding risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the risk factors listed from time to time in such SEC reports.  Copies of these filings are available through the SEC's electronic data gathering analysis and retrieval system (EDGAR) at http://www.sec.gov/.

  FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
  ELITE FINANCIAL COMMUNICATIONS GROUP
  Dodi B. Handy, President & CEO
  For Media Inquiries: Tiffany Korkis, Director of Elite Media Group
  407-585-1080 or via email at 

DATASOURCE: America West Resources, Inc.



CONTACT:  Dodi B. Handy, President & CEO of Elite Financial

Communications Group, or Tiffany Korkis, Director of Elite Media Group,

[phone], 



Web site:  http://www.americacoal.com/

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