Press
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
BLUEFIELD — Is it possible to use a football game as inspiration for a state whose most important natural resource is under attack.Why not? Who would have expected Marshall to win the GMAC Bowl in 2001, trailing 38-8 at halftime.
Bill Raney, president of the West Virginia Coal Association, said, “Not only is Greg a world-class racer, but he’s a West Virginia native who through his work in and around the coal industry understands the important role coal plays in everyone’s lives. We’ll all be rooting for him while he’s on tour and we’re sure he’ll pull out a bunch of wins.”
A Point Pleasant, West Virginia native, Fowler is an accomplished drag racer competing in the IHRA’s Hot Rod Sportsman’s Class. In 2007 he was the IHRA Division I Champion in the eastern U.S. and finished the year 7th in the world. In 2008, he finished 16th in the world.
Fowler’s 1980 Camero is powered by an 850 horsepower, 498 cubic inch engine and the lightening fast car now has the Friends of Coal logo emblazoned on the side.
“I’m proud to have the opportunity to showcase West Virginia coal and the benefit it provides to our state and nation as I travel the IHRA circuit,” Fowler said. “Working with the industry and having a tool like my car is a perfect fit. Race fans understand the need for power and I look forward to telling them what’s under the hood, so to speak, in West Virginia.”
Fowler plans to compete at the remaining IHRA National events and at the Divisional events in New York and Pittsburgh. The remaining National event schedule includes July 31-Aug. 2 IHRA Northern Nationals in Martin, MI; the Sept. 11-13 IHRA North American Nationals in Epping, NH; the Sept. 25-27 IHRA President’s Cup Nationals and the World Finals in Rockingham, NC Oct 22–25.
For additional information, contact Bill Raney at (304) 342-4153.
Raney spoke with third graders as part of a Friends of Coal Ladies Auxiliary project called Coal in the Classroom. St. Francis was the first school to adopt the curriculum but it’s expected to expand to the public school system this fall.
The fifth and final Coal in the Classroom session wrapped up on Wednesday.
Now, Morgan Hylton says she has a better understanding of what her dad does for a living.
“My dad is an above ground miner,” Hylton said. “Learn they burn coal to make electricity if we didn’t have it we wouldn’t be able to have a lot of stuff.”
|
|
|
|
|||||
West Virginia Coal Association Annual Symposium, January 10-12 |
Spirit of Beckley awarded to Friends of Coal founder, Dec. 3, 2006 | Friends of Coal Soccer Fields at Trace Fork, Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Oct. 7, 2006 | Friends of Coal Bowl, Sept. 2, 2006 | Friends of Coal Bowl Game Viewing Parties, Sept. 2, 2006 |
|
|
|
|
|||||
WV Coal Festival in Madison - June 22, 2006 | BrickStreet event with guest speaker, FOC spokesperson, Bob Pruett – June 12, 2006 | WV Coal Hall of Fame Inductions, May 5, 2006 | WVSSAC Basketball State Championships, March 11th and March 18th | Friends of Coal Honor Mine Rescue Teams, March 2, 2006 |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
||||
17th Annual Mountain State Coal Classic, January 29th-February 4th, 2006 | WV Mining Symposium, January 18th-20th, 2006 |
![]() |
Download the Friends of Coal Logo Logos available for download are listed below. To download, right-click the link and select "Save Target As..." Windows .GIF File (72 dpi): 800x600 pixels | 1024x768 pixels Windows .GIF File (300 dpi): 9 x 6 inches Encapsulated Postscript (EPS) File: foc_logo.eps |
“I am
so pleased that a sponsor like Friends of Coal has now stepped up to
take this game to a level of national prominence similar to the great
in-state rivalries of such schools as Florida-Florida State,
Alabama-Auburn and Clemson-South Carolina.”
-West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin
"Coal
is a part of everything good in the Mountain State, so it's natural
that the Friends of Coal would jump in and become a part of this game.
I know all football fans in the state appreciate their generous
support."
–Rich Rodriguez, head football coach, West Virginia University
“This
series is going to be great for all of West Virginia and to have the
Friends of Coal supporting it as a title sponsor makes it even more
special. It is only fitting to have West Virginia’s two Division 1-A
football programs facing off in the Friends of Coal Bowl. We are
excited about the rivalry and look forward to kicking it off in
September.”
–Marshall University head football coach Mark Snyder
"We
are happy the Friends of Coal are joining us in making this game one of
a kind; their support is tremendous. We are looking forward to a great
season opener on September 2."
–Ed Pastilong, athletic director, West Virginia University
We
greatly appreciate the Friends of Coal for their support in helping to
make this a great event. This series will showcase two outstanding
Universities that all West Virginians can be proud of and we look
forward to opening the season with the Friends of Coal Bowl.
–Bob Marcum, athletic director, Marshall University
“The
coal industry is pleased to be contributing to the universities and to
this football series. It is only natural that our industry would like
to do everything we can to make the Friends of Coal Bowl a great event.”
–Randy Hansford, Chairman, West Virginia Coal Association Board of Directors
“Our
industry is the major industry in West Virginia, and we believe that it
helps bring our state together. We also believe this football game will
bring our state together because it involves West Virginia’s two
flagship institutions.
“We’re happy to have an important role in
this tremendous game. And we hope that our participation will put a
spotlight on the proud working people of the coal industry.”
–Bill Raney, President, West Virginia Coal Association
“I believe the West Virginia-Marshall game is great for the state and I’m awfully happy it’s being named the Friends of Coal Bowl because, in my opinion, coal drives the state of West Virginia.
–Don Nehlen, former West Virginia University football coach, member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Friends of Coal spokesman
2. Registration. You may be required to register in order to be granted access to certain services and/or products at this web site. At the time of registration, you may be prompted by one of our online forms to provide certain personal information to us, including your name, email address, etc. ("Registration Data").
3. Registration Data. We use Registration Data to send you information and to keep you informed. We also use Registration Data to tailor our web site to your particular needs. We use demographic and profile information to tailor your experience at our site, showing you the content that we think you might be interested in as well as displaying the content according to your preferences. You may choose to stop receiving future communications from us. Please see the Opt-Out and Discontinue Section below.
4. IP Addresses. IP addresses are used by your computer every time you are connected to the Internet. Your IP address is a number that is used by computers on the network to identify your computer. IP addresses are automatically collected by our web server as part of demographic and profile data known as "traffic data" so that data (such as the Web pages you request) can be sent to you. Friends of Coal will not use your IP address to attempt to identify your personal information.
5. Referers. A Referer is the information passed along by a web browser that references the Web URL you linked from, and is automatically collected by our web server as "traffic data". We use traffic data to credit your referral to a partner or affiliate who referred you to our web site. This information may also be used by Friends of Coal to identify broad demographic trends that may be used to provide information tailored to your interests. You will not be personally identified from this information.
6. System Information. System information we collect as part of "traffic data" includes time, the type of web browser being used and the operating system/platform. This information is sent automatically by your web browser when you are connected to a web site. This information is used by Friends of Coal in identifying broad demographic trends and may be used to provide information appropriate for your computer system. You will not be personally identified from this information.
7. Sharing of Information. Friends of Coal feels strongly that your personally identifying data should only be seen by you, unless you authorize us to share it with others. Except as provided in this privacy Policy, no data or information which personally identifies you will be shared with anyone. Some of your information may be shared on an aggregate basis only, as a part of a larger set of statistics, but that information will not be sufficient to permit the recipient to identify you. Notwithstanding the forgoing, Friends of Coal will only disclose personally identifiable data without your permission in the following limited circumstances: (i) if Friends of Coal is required to do so by law, or (ii) if Friends of Coal has the good faith belief that such action is necessary to conform to or comply with applicable laws.
8. Security. Information collected by Friends of Coal is stored in secure operating environments that are not available to the public. All of our employees and contractors are dedicated to maintaining and upholding your privacy and security and are aware of our privacy and security policies. Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed 100% secure. As a result, while we strive to protect your personal information within our systems, Friends of Coal cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to us, and you do so at your own risk.
9. Other Web Sites and Links. This web site contains links to other web sites, and our partners and affiliates may also have links on this web site and/or provide links to this web site. Please note that the privacy practices of those other web sites and of our partners and affiliates are not covered by this Privacy Policy, and we are not responsible for the privacy practices or the content of such web sites, partners, or affiliates. You should be careful to review any privacy policies of such web sites, partners, or affiliates.
10. Opt-Out and Discontinue. Subscribers may elect to opt-out and to discontinue receiving future communications from Friends of Coal. As an opt-in subscriber, you are required to confirm your subscription by automated e-mail in order to begin receiving information or updates from Friends of Coal. An automated opt-out e-mail will then be provided to you. You may also avoid future communications from Friends of Coal by sending us an email at info@friendsofcoal.org indicating your name and e-mail address and requesting to opt-out and discontinue future communications.
11. Modification of Privacy Policy By Friends of Coal. Friends of Coal reserves the right to change or update this Privacy Policy at any time without notice.
Warren Hylton has a full plate.
A business owner, civic leader, loving husband, father and advocate for the state's coal industry and its young people, Hylton seems to have a hand in nearly everything.
Though many people know the Hylton family name - his father is businessman Tracy Hylton - Beckley-Raleigh County YMCA CEO Jim Gilchrist says he doesn't think the majority of southern West Virginians are aware of all the contributions the younger Hylton has made to the community and state.
Usually it's easy to spot the tour-level rookie – he's the guy with the most white-space on his shirt.
Rookie Jeremy Starks – a Bass Cat and Evinrude pro from West Virginia – is somewhat harder to spot. That's because he joined the Bassmaster Elite Series this year with a full suite of sponsors, including a major backer that's turned him into a major spokesman.
And once he obtained that premier sponsor, other deals started coming through the door. It was a rookie's dream come true, and he did pretty much all of it outside his own back door.
The Friends of Coal Ladies Auxiliary “Giving Hearts” program continues to be a major success. In its third year, the program reaches out to the community to offer assistance to those in need.
"We raised enough funding this year to provide Christmas for 63 families -- more than 300 individuals," said Regina Fairchild of the Auxiliary. "The majority of these needy families were deployed military. We reached out across West Virginia as far as Wheeling and Camp Dawson, literally doubling our number of families from 2010. We are all so very blessed and it truly was an overwhelming experience. Each child receives three gifts they choose, clothing, each parent receives a gift. Enough food is provided for each family for at least two weeks. Imagine all the turkeys and hams, cases of water, juice, potatoes alone."