Following the sudden and untimely death of Marshall University President Stephen Kopp in December, the University’s Board of Governors has unanimously named former West Virginia Coal Association President and two-time Board Chairman, Gary White, of Logan, to the role of interim president.  A Marshall graduate, Gary has also served as president and CEO of International Industries, Inc., based in Gilbert, vice president of the state Board of Education, the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and on the University of Pikeville Board of Trustees.  His tenure began January 1^st and will last until a permanent replacement is found.

Following the announcement, Governor Tomblin said,  “I have known Gary for many years and commend Marshall University for making an outstanding choice for an interim president. Gary is passionate about improving our state’s higher education system and will be a steady hand for the University while the Board of Governors searches for a permanent replacement for the late Dr. Kopp.”  We, at the Association, wish the best of luck to Gary who we know will do an outstanding job for his alma mater and the State of West Virginia.

The formal changing of the guard in West Virginia’s Congressional delegation took place this week in Washington with the “swearing-in” of  U.S. Senator Shelley Capito (R-WV),  incumbent Congressman David McKinley (R-1st District) and freshmen Congressmen Evan Jenkins (R-3rd District) and Alex Mooney (R-2nd District).  Capito is the first woman ever to be elected to the U.S. Senate from West Virginia and the first Republican in more than 50 years.

West Virginia's longest-serving governor, Arch A. Moore Jr. died January 7th in Charleston at age 91 just one day after his daughter, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV, was sworn into office.

Moore, a Marshall County native, launched his life in politics at age 28 and was married for 65 years to the late Shelley Riley Moore, who died in September 2014. The Moores were parents to Shelley Moore Capito, Lucy Moore Durbin and Arch III. 

STRATTON STREET — With Christmas right around the corner, many local military and coal mining families are feeling the pressures of the holidays instead of the Christmas Spirit. However, the Friends of Coal Ladies’ Auxiliary, an organization with about 5,000 members throughout the coalfields that works year-round to promote awareness about the positive aspects of the coal industry, to educate the public about the industry, and to work on projects that support veterans, visited Logan County on Tuesday to act as “Santa’s Helpers.”

The Ladies’ Auxiliary brought toys, clothes and two weeks of food for 13 local families during their Giving Hearts operation. They took base in the Shriner’s Lodge located on Stratton Street. The Shriner’s donated the use of the building for free as their contribution to the project.      

West Virginia’s delegation to the U.S. Senate will be sitting on several key committees when the new Congress takes its seats in January.

Incoming Senator Shelley Capito has been appointed to serve on the all-important Appropriations Committee, as well as the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Environment and Public Works Committee and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.