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.”
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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 |
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| Friends of Coal sponsored Paint the Capital Green, Aug. 17, 2006 | Friends of Coal At The State Fair August 12, 2006 | Friends of Coal Auto Fair Concert. July 22, 2006 | Friends of Coal is making an appearance in Iraq. | Friends of Coal night at the Power Park with spokesperson Jeremy Starks - June 22, 2006 |
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| 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 |
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| 17th Annual Mountain State Coal Classic, January 29th-February 4th, 2006 | WV Mining Symposium, January 18th-20th, 2006 |
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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
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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."