October 6, 2025 - The glory days of Lynch, Kentucky when coal was king and U.S. Steel set up one of the largest coal camps in the world at the bottom of Black Mountain may be over, but the former coal town is still in production. It may not be producing coal, but it’s producing people – difference makers, as The Rev. Ronnie Hampton of Mt. Sinai Baptist Church called the people who came from Lynch and who have spread their many contributions throughout the nation. Hampton, a former coal miner and MSHA (Mine Safety & Health Administration) official, was this year’s special speaker at Lynch’s annual Coal Miner Appreciation Day where miners are not only honored for their service, but where, each year, names are added to the Lynch Walk of Legends – past and present – who have made a profound impact on the community. Hampton said the coal may have stopped, but the people of Lynch keep producing people with far-reaching impacts on the world. Not only has there been coal miners, there’s been educators, athletes and civic leaders who have expanded the hard work ethic that Lynch is known for beyond the mountains.

The people and their commitment to making the world a better place in which to live are just as valuable as the black diamonds that placed Lynch on the map. Hampton compared Lynch to a tree that has branches spreading out in many directions. “We’re not producing like we used to, but we’re still connected to that tree that started here in Lynch,” Hampton said during Saturday’s Coal Miner Appreciation Day that was held in the restored Lynch Depot. “And we are right now honoring people who are a part of that tree…we are still expanding. Not as fast as we used to, but we are all expanding together.” Hampton even mentioned how he still runs into people who remembers him as part of Lynch’s powerhouse football team several decades ago. He said the fact that the town’s people are remembered and highly regarded by others escalates them to legend status. “We didn’t just win, we won with dignity,” Hampton exclaimed. “You become legends when other people talk about you. So, everybody’s talked about our football team, about U.S. Steel and so forth, but we are more than that. We have diversified ourselves all over. We are Lynch. We are somebody!” The vast contributions of those many coal camp natives is what created the Lynch Walk of Legends – a picturesque walking track expanding through the town that contains erected signs along the pathway honoring the impact of nominated and selected Lynch residents who made profound impacts on their community and beyond. Walk of Legends honorees are recognized every year during Coal Miner Appreciation Day, which is now in its 27th year.

This year’s honorees were the late Richard “Pisanna” Polli, the late John Adams, and current Lynch council member Roger Wilhoit, who also helps every year with Coal Miner Appreciation Day and Walk of Legends plans. Wilhoit is a 1969 graduate of Lynch High School, a former U.S. Steel employee plus other area mines, MSHA federal inspector, and a former mayor of Lynch. In addition to continuing to help rebuild the community as a city councilman, Wilhoit also serves as president of the Tri-Cities Heritage Development Corp., is a board member of the Looney Creek Mission Center, and CEO of the Traveling Road Show. MaryJo O’Bradovich, who helps organize Coal Miner Appreciation Day and the Lynch Walk of Legends endeavor, was eager to present Wilhoit’s legend sign to him during Saturday’s program. She bragged on his commitment to the community as well as his friendship. “Roger and I work really well together,” O’Bradovich said. “We get along really well and we work on projects really well. He will have a suggestion to which I add to and vice versa. That’s what makes a good community.”

Local Methodist minister Diana Cornett led Saturday’s invocation and benediction. Even though she left Lynch in 1968 when her family moved from the coal camp to Tennessee, Cornett was overjoyed to be able to return to the Tri-Cities four years ago to pastor Benham United Methodist Church. She said she was proud to see residents she grew up with like Wilhoit become community leaders. “Seeing good friends, honoring people who have done so well for this community, that’s what I love about this day,” Cornett said. “I grew up with Roger, and to see how he flourished, we’re all just skin-kneed kids just running down the road, but to see how he has blessed his community and that he has made such a wonderful life here is really inspirational.” Wilhoit said being named a Lynch Walk of Legends honoree meant a lot to him. While his mining career, especially when he was with MSHA, could have taken him anywhere in the nation, he always wanted to stay in Lynch and help his town rebuild from the fallout of the coal industry. “It’s just a big honor to be recognized by the city you have lived in for over 70 years,” Wilhoit said. “There’s no place like home. I’m happy here. I was born and raised here. I lived my whole life here, and I’ll end up finishing the game right here in this town. I’ve traveled around to many different places, but I always came back.”

While coal.towns in Appalachia are struggling to survive in the downturn of the industry, it has become more crucial for visionary leaders like Wilhoit to step up to the plate to make sure their towns survive. While Wilhoit believes Lynch has already seen its glory days, he still believes there are more days of vitality in front of it as the town transitions to a tourism economy. That is why he continues to work hard on advocating for Lynch. “I certainly hope that we can get some kind of help to start fixing our infrastructure – things that are going to have to be done here because this city is going to continue,” Wilhoit said. “We need to keep growing tourism here in Lynch. There’s stories that still need to be told. I just want the best to happen for this town, and as long as I’m here, I’m going to work to make that happen.” Cornett echoed Wilhoit’s sentiments about Lynch still having a future. Even though she said she liked Hampton’s description of a tree reaching out with many branches, Cornett said that metaphorical tree growing in Lynch also had strong roots in faith. “Even though U.S. Steel is gone, God is still here,” Cornett said. “God has not forgotten us. It is here we can say we call home and our roots run deep. I’m thankful for those roots here in Lynch, Kentucky.” Another Walk of Legends honoree recognized at Saturday’s Coal Miner Appreciation Day was the late John Adams, a former mayor in Lynch who began navigating his town through transition when the coal industry took its last major hit. Adams was also a lifelong resident of Lynch, a 1967 graduate of Lynch High School, a retired coal miner for U.S. Steel and Arch Coal, UMWA Local 7425 financial secretary, Lynch burial fund treasurer, and a longtime member of the Church of the Resurrection. Adams’ large family was in attendance Saturday, standing by his widow’s side as she accepted the honor in his memory. Adams has three children, seven grandchildren, and a great-grandchild, plus a great-nephew named after him. “I think the legacy he will leave is his love for his family and this town,” his widow, Linda Adams, said.

“Those were the two things he loved more than anything and wanted to protect. He wanted to protect Lynch and see it flourish.” Adams, who had been married to her husband for 40 years, said he would have been proud of the honor and it would have been something he would have happily hung his hat on. “Johnny was my heart,” Adams said. “From the bottom of my heart, I thank you all for this honor. Johnny loved his home and he was always invested in giving back to the people of this community he cherished so much. Our family is deeply grateful for this recognition.” The late Richard “Pisanna” Polli was this year’s Lynch Walk of Legends third honoree. Polli, who was born in 1900 and died in 1972, came to Lynch from Italy through Ellis Island in the 1920s. He had worked as both a U.S. Steel stone mason and an underground coal miner. Polli became a mine foreman in 1940, served on the mine rescue team, and in 1935, became the team captain member of the labor union. He retired from the mining industry in 1965. Harlan County Judge-Executive Dan Mosley makes it a point to attend every Coal Miner Appreciation Day in Lynch when his schedule allows. He was there on Saturday, sitting in the crowd and applauding all three honorees for their contributions. Mosley said he supported the annual program because of its commitment in continuing to recognize the sacrifice of coal miners to their families and communities, but to also show his support for a coal town struggling to rebuild. “I just think a lot of times people don’t quiet understand the significance this place played in the American fiber,” Mosley said. “There’s not as many mines as there used to be, but it will always be part of America’s energy footprint, and Coal Miner Appreciation Day is a day to celebrate those who mined the coal, those who were killed in the mines, those who provided for their families and powered us through two world wars and an Industrial Revolution. They kept the steel mills going that provided the ability to defend our nation.” Funding for the Lynch Walk of Legends signs is provided by American Lonesome Pine Post 195. The Coal Miner Appreciation Day reception is hosted by the city of Lynch with O’Bradovich, Lu Sturgill and volunteers as key event planners.