FOC Press
Coal miners and supporters of the coal industry showed their support of the coal industry Wednesday as they rallied at the nation's Capital.
The Stand Up For Coal Jobs Rally took place beneath the shadows of the Capitol because the crowd says Congress is putting their future in jeopardy.
By Bill Raney
President, West Virginia Coal Association
As we close the books on another truly great game, the Friends of Coal would like to thank the people of Huntington for playing host to thousands of our state's best - our hard-working coal miners and their families.
Over the past five seasons, this game has been the highlight of our annual calendar, whether it was held in Huntington or Morgantown. It is our honor to serve as the sponsors of the game.
While we all love football, our Mountaineers and our Thundering Herd, the Friends of Coal Bowl is about more than a game. Every fall, whether you wear the Blue and Gold or the Green and White, it lights up our expectations. It fills the pages of our newspapers and our television screens. It energizes us. It has become a symbol of our state, much as that little black rock for which it was named, has energized our nation for the past 100 years.
But it is more than football. It is about more than pride. It is about our future.
CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Coal Association would like to thank NIKE and West Virginia University for their tribute to West Virginia’s coal miners. The decision to exchange the Blue and Gold of the Mountaineers for the “Black and Gold” is a touching tribute to the hard work and sacrifice of the 50,000 men and women who make their living in West Virginia’s coal industry.
The uniforms were the creation of NIKE as part of their introduction of the “Pro Combat” equipment line. Coach Bill Stewart’s Mountaineers will wear the uniform for the November 26 “Backyard Brawl” at Pitt.
“The Mountaineers are truly West Virginia’s team and much like our coal miners, they are the heart and soul of our state,” said Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association. “We would like to thank the folks at NIKE and at West Virginia University for making this happen. This recognition means so much -- to our current coal miners and their families and to the generations of West Virginians who have worked and given so much of themselves to provide the resource that has made our nation great.
A group of Association members met Monday with 3rd District Congressman Nick Rahall and Congressional Candidate Spike Maynard at the Earl Ray Tomblin Conference Center at Chief Logan State Park for a discussion of coal issues. The candidates were allowed to state their positions on the issues related to the industry and answered questions from those in attendance.