Raney: ‘Feels like it’s time’ to retire

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — After 28 years leading the West Virginia Coal Association, Bill Raney will leave the organization at the end of the week.

Raney, the association’s president and chief executive officer, announced his retirement in November. Raney will step aside on Jan. 1, and Chris Hamilton — the current senior vice president — will take over.

“It just feels like it’s time,” Raney told MetroNews affiliate WCHS-AM on Tuesday.

Bill Raney

Raney said he decided to retire after talking to his wife Pam, noting the coronavirus pandemic was a factor in the final decision.

“This virus thing has put everything into a different perspective, and it’s just one of those times,” he said.

Raney previously served as the vice president of the West Virginia Mining and Reclamation Association until he joined the West Virginia Coal Association in 1992. The two organizations merged in 2000.

While coal production continues to decline, Raney said he is optimistic about coal’s use in creating other products.

“We’ve got a lot of smart people who are working on things,” he said. “Taking coal and turning it into something that is much more valuable.”

As for his future, Raney noted he does not have any specific plans.

“I’ve got to get a lot better with Legos,” he said. “I’ve got a 3 1/2-year-old grandson, and they are important to him. He’s way ahead of me right now, and I’m going to have to kick it up a bit to try to figure out how to build up things without the instruction book.”





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