Buck Harless built an empire from Gilbert West Virginia
The ascent of James Buck Harless from an orphaned 15 year old in Gilbert to a billionaire timber and coal magnate who runs International Industries Inc with 20 plus subsidiaries. Forbes labeled him lucky and smart as he funds West Virginia universities hospitals and economic development while remaining rooted in his hometown. Now 81 he still checks mills from his vehicle and values honest work over style.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gilbert
Buck Harless
Harless
James
Buck” Harless
Horatio Alger
Luke
West Virginia
New York
Philadelphia
Forbes Magazine
International Industries Inc
Grant seminar offered at BSC
A one hour workshop titled How to Apply for Grants from The Bluefield Area Foundation Inc will be at Bluefield State College in Dickason Hall Katharine Tierney Conference Room on Tuesday Aug 15 starting at 10 am. Executive director Katharine Light Sexton invites Mercer County West Virginia and Tazewell County Virginia nonprofits exempt under 501c3 to send a representative, as should public institutions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bluefield
Bluefield Area Foundation, Inc
Bluefield State College
Dickason Hall
Katharine Tierney
Katharine Light Sexton
Mercer County
Tazewell County
Wva
Tazewell Supervisors Seek State Review of School Funds
Tazewell County officials urge the Virginia General Assembly to have the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission study Standards of Quality funding formulas. They want adjustments to reflect current education delivery and equity in salary raises across employee classes, especially aiding rural counties like Tazewell and Buchanan.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tazewell
Commonwealth
Hodock
Buchanan
Tazewell County
General Assemble Committee
Virginia Association of Counties
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission
Scholarship keeps Bowen's legacy alive
For 32 years the Ethel N. Bowen Foundation Inc supports young people from southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia with college, graduate, and medical school funding. The First Century Bank trust department administers the scholarship, aiding about 225 to 260 students yearly while requiring solid grades and timely graduation. Debbie Uhl has worked with the program alongside R.W. Wilkinson, highlighting each student as special in her ten years of involvement.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bluefield
Mercer County
Ethel N. Bowen
West Virginia
Southwest Virginia
Uhl
Bank
Wilkenson
Blessings and fellowship mark 13th annual banquet
More than 130 people attended the 13th Annual Fellowship Banquet at the Herb Sims Youth Center in Bluefield honoring Flat Top Missionary Baptist Women’s District Convention. Janet Williams, newly elected Mercer County Board of Education member and first African American woman in countywide office, urged optimism and faith citing obstacles as challenges worth overcoming and the power of small acts of kindness.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Luefield
Herb Sims
Bluefield
Flat Top Missionary Baptist Women’s District Convention
Janet Williams
Williams
Mercer County
Edris Miller
Karen Hargraves
71st Lilly Family Reunion Opens Aug 18 1930 on Flat Top Mountain
The Lilly Reunion began August 16 17 1930 in Flat Top Mountain Mercer County with 20000 to 30000 attendees. Bill Archer reports the event rooted in Summers Raleigh and Mercer counties tracing to Robert Lilly, a Primitive Baptist family famed for frugality and resilience. The annual gathering now attracts thousands at Lilly Reunion Memorial Park, with details of schedule and performers including Whisperin Bill Anderson and the Steve Easter band.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hugh Ike Shott
U.S. House of Representatives
Flat Top Mountain
Mercer County
Shott
Lilly
West Virginia
Robert Lilly
Bluestone River
Summers County
Summers
Raleigh
Mercer
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
Jack Lilly
A.A
Abe” Lilly
France
Lillys
William of
Normandy
the Conqueror
England
John Lilly
Virginia
John
Gates of Lilly Reunion Memorial Park
Whisperin
Bill Anderson
Grand Ole Opry Fame
Steve “Rabbit
Gaither
Accord Family
Everett Lilly
Anderson
Also Mentioned on This Page
International Industries
Charleston
BSC
Eric DiNove
Cara Beth Quisenberry
Linda
David
Johnson City
Tenn
Pipestem State Park
Bowen
Missionary Baptist Women’s Convention
Bill Archer
The
Daily Telegraph
Canton
Ohio
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!