By Greg Jordan

May 23, 2018 - Local leaders were saddened Tuesday to learn that a longtime member of the community who helped start a major coal industry show, helped baseball in Bluefield and aided everything from the local Boy Scouts to the Mercer County Airport had passed away.

Charles Peters, also known to many in the Bluefield community as Charlie, passed away Monday evening, Mayor Ron Martin of Bluefield announced during a meeting of the Bluefield Board of Directors.

“The Board of Directors and Administration of the city of Bluefield are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Charles Peters,” Martin said Tuesday afternoon. “Mr. Peters has an unparalleled record of dedication and service to the country and to this community, extending back decades. There is hardly an aspect of life or an institution in this city that didn’t benefit from Mr. Peters’ hard work and financial generosity. Community benefactors such as Mr. Peters are rare, and he will be sorely missed. Our prayers go out to his family during this sad and difficult time.”

Mercer County Commissioner Bill Archer, formerly senior editor of the Bluefield Daily Telegraph, recalled interviewing Peters for a coal industry publication.

“The last article I did for the ‘Coal People” magazine was about Charlie,” Archer said. “We got into his background. He was a Battle of the Bulge survivor, and he came from a pretty modest lifestyle in the Union area, Monroe County.”

Peters went on to become a chemical engineer with an advanced degree, and developed some coal-washing machines in the 1950s and 1960s “which truly revolutionized the industry,” Archer said. 

Archer said Peters played a major role in starting the biannual Bluefield Coal Show.

“He was really the founder of the coal show and he carried it on his back for the first several years. He made all the contacts, starting in 1976 when he got the first continuous miner there. That was a big deal for him,” Archer said. “It changed the coal show and made it a modern show. Charlie was just a prince among people. He was active with the rescue squad and chaired the Bluefield Regional Medical Center for years. He was active in the Boy Scouts and he was also on the (Mercer County) airport authority for many years. He was in just any kind of thing that needed help. He seemed to be the kind of guy who would step up to help.”

Joshua Cline, president of the Greater Bluefield Chamber of Commerce, said Peters had “an incredible life.”

“We’re appreciative not only for the impact he made on the community, but for the example he set for what it means to be a leading citizen in the area, an outstanding businessman and a wonderful family man,” Cline said. “He really led a wonderful life and all who met him were fortunate for spending time with him, He was highly intelligent, educated and a good at heart. He loved to see people working together and getting work done. He was a very generous philanthropist in the area.”

Debbie Maynard of the Greater Bluefield Chamber said that Peters was most effective with the coal show through his contacts with the industry.

“Everybody was most familiar with Charlie Peters and Peters Equipment,” she said. “He has been chairman of the Bluefield Coal Show since 1976. He was responsible for getting the Joy Continuous Miner at the Bluefield Coal Show that was going to Consolidation Coal Mine. He was effective in reaching out to the coal industry throughout the year, inviting them to attend and participate in the Bluefield Coal Show. Charlie Peters took the Bluefield Coal Show to heart. We work on the Bluefield Coal Show throughout the year. He was right on top of the project – improvements making the coal show better – and committees.”

“He was a true community leader,” Maynard said. “He loved his community and he loved seeing things be successful. He admired the volunteers and their commitment.”

George McGonagle, president of the Bluefield Baseball Club, Inc., remembered the commitment Peters had to keeping professional baseball in the area. Peters contributed considerable funds to maintaining Bowen Field, which now has the added title of Charles A. Peters Baseball Park. His contributions have helped improve the park’s club house, visitors club house, plumbing and other fixtures at the facility.

“Yes, sir. He’s been on the board of directors for years, “ McGonagle said. “I couldn’t tell you how long. Twenty-five years or better. He served as treasurer of the club until recently. He was involved in everything; the Boy Scouts, you name it, but he was particularly good to baseball. He and his wife very generously gave us funds to replace the grandstand roof.”       

"Mr. Coal Show" Charlie Peters

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