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.
For the past five seasons, the Friends of Coal Bowl has helped provide 30 students access to a college education. Each year, the game funds three scholarships at each of the two universities.
These scholarships are what the Friend of Coal Bowl is really all about - assisting deserving students who are going to carry forward the strength, integrity and perseverance of the great people who make West Virginia's coal industry such a great part of America's independence. The achievements of these students will prove the future or our state and our country will be in good hands.
We have enjoyed our visits to Huntington, just as we have our visits to Morgantown. You made us feel at home. You opened up your arms and welcomed us like family - like "friends" and we thank you for that. But that is what West Virginia's coal industry is all about. Our state remains focused on the traditional values of family, faith, hard work and friendship.
We hope to join with our two universities to continue this tradition. Both West Virginia University and Marshall University have long and storied histories in sports. Both universities have always stepped up to meet eh needs of our state and to be active partners in our communities.
Our coal miners also have a long and storied history in our state and our nation. They have literally fueled the dreams of generations of West Virginians and of America. They have always stepped up to meet the needs of our state and our nation. We are proud to be a part of the fabric of the lives of our people.
Speaking for the West Virginia coal industry, I would like to thank the people of Huntington, of Morgantown and of our two great universities, for all their support and for making the annual Friends of Coal Bowl the success it has become. I would also like to thank our 50,000 Friends of Coal, our working coal miners and their families for all their hard work. We should all remember that the steel that built the stadium, the lights that light the field, the electricity that powers and heats our homes and provides the quality of life we enjoy is possible only through their hard work.
As we turn out the lights on this fifth edition of the Friends of Coal Bowl, I also want to thank the people of West Virginia for their support of our industry and our working coal miners. We are proud to be West Virginians. We are proud to be your friends.
West Virginia University
2009
Noel Devine - Football; Sociology & Anthropology
Payton Brooks - Football/Swimming & Diving; Athletic Coaching Educaiton
Natalie Burton - W. Basketball; Pre-Business
2008
Noel Devine - Football; Sociology & Anthropology
Payton Brooks - Football/Swimming & Diving; Athletic Coaching Education
Natalie Burton - W. Basketball; Perth, Australia; Pre-Business
2007
Noel Devine - Football; Sociology & Anthropology
Payton Brooks - Football/Swimming & Diving; Athletic Coaching Education
Meg Bulger - W. Basketball; Multi-Disciplinary Studies
2006
Meg Bulger - W. Basketball; Mutli-Disciplinary Studies
Alex Ruoff - M. Basketball; History
Andy Wright - M. Soccer; Physical Education Teaching
Marshall University
2010
Teseka Jowett, Boone County, Pre-Teacher Elementary Education with a concentration in Elementary Education, K-6 Comprehension
Bethany Thomas, Nicholas County, Pre-Health Professions
Destinee Vance, Lincoln County, Pre-Health Professions
2009
Jordan A. Hatfield, Mingo County, College of Liberal Arts - Undecided
Kimberly Hildreth, Lincoln County, BS, Biochemistry
Mercedes A. Swayne, Kanawha County, Pre-Counseling, College of Education
2008
Justin D. Browning, Mingo County, BS, Chemistry
Frances Alicia Ashley, Cabell County, BA, Psychology
Savannah L. Michelle Hodges, Lincoln County, Pre-Teacher Elementary Education with a concentration in Elementary Education, K-6 Comprehension
2007
Jeremy E. Lloyd, Princeton, Mercer County, BS - Biomedical Science
Odessa C. Compton, Chapmanville, Logan County, BSN Nursing
Krista B. Ratliff, Matewan, Mingo County, BS, Communication Disorders