TORNADO, WV (WOWK) – One of the four co-founders of the Coal River Group is planning on stepping away and retiring after 24 years of service.

Bill Currey and three fellow fishermen started the Coal River Group in 2002, after noticing how polluted the Coal River had become.

“We went out and took a couple of paddle trips, and we fell in love with the river. But, we said to ourselves ‘This is a dirty river. It’s got way too much trash.’ So, the four of us put $100 on the table one evening and started the Coal River Group,” said Currey.

Since then, with the help of more than 600 volunteers over the years, Currey and the Coal River Group have completely transformed the Coal River into a tourism hot spot.

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Currey said the reason he’s stepping back into a more hands-off role is due to his age, but he’s confident that the Coal River Group will stay as strong as ever.

“I’m 79 years old. You can’t do this at the rate I’m going forever. We’re in a great position. No matter where I’m at or what I’m doing, the organizations doing great. The board, our fundraising group, can raise more money to pay more staff,” said Currey.

The Coal River group is currently comprised of one full-time employee and two part-time employees.

Currey was also one of the founding fathers of the Tour De Coal, a paddling event that sees an average of 15,000 people make their way to the Coal River every summer.

Currey had some words of advice for those who would like to begin cleanup efforts like his but may be unsure of how to start.

“Do it yourself. I’m on Facebook every day, I see so many people say, ‘Oh that’s a shame, why do they do that?’ My theory is if you go clean up a site, and you clean it up a second time, and you come in a third time, it runs off the bad people and brings in the good people. So that, to me, is self-sustaining,” said Currey

Currey said he has one way to measure if he’s been successful.

“I think if I’ve set an example that others can follow, I’m successful,” said Currey.

Currey doesn’t have an exact date that he plans to retire, and you may not see him at the Coal River Group headquarters in Tornado very often. But he said you’ll be able to find him enjoying the Coal River for the rest of his life.

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