change the course of his hell-raiser and fought life. tirelessly with his dear As a very popular friend Larry Gibson against professor, Dr. Hechler was mountaintop removal. On known as a dedicated June 23, 2009, Ken, then advocate for responsible aged 94, participated in a engagement in civil life. protest near mountaintop He passionately urged his removal mining sites in the students to take part in coalfields in politics by voting, the Coal River Valley along volunteering, activism, and with others; he was one of even running for political 29 protesters arrested for office. His students turned trespassing. this philosophy back at In retirement, Ken him, pressing him to run turned to writing once for office. again, penning several Ken Hechler Thus it was, although he more books: “The Fight for moved to West Virginia to Coal Mine Health and Dr. Kenneth (“Ken”) teach and mentor young Safety,” about his work to Hechler, 102, legendary minds, he soon found gain miners’ health and West Virginia statesman, himself running for, and safety benefits, “Super peacefully slipped the winning, a seat in Marine,” “Hero of the bonds of a life well lived House of Rhine,” about soldiers he and much loved, on Representatives, representing met during WWII, and Saturday, December 10, West Virginia’s Fourth “Soldier of the Union,” 2016 surrounded by his Congressional District, that about his grandfather who much beloved family at his then included the city of fought for the Union in the home in Romney, West Huntington and many Civil War. He has also Virginia. In addition to a unionized mill towns along written a book of his generous life of public the north of favorite parodies, for which service, he was a decorated that industrial city; this was he was famous, called war hero, a prolific writer in 1958. Though his first “Faith, Hope and Parody,” of several historical books, political victory was by a and “How to be a Great and a tenacious activist slim 3,500 votes, he proved Teacher.” who championed civil himself to be a true and An Episcopalian by rights, miner’s health and honorable representative to tradition, he was a member rights, and the environment. his constituents and was re- of Trinity Episcopal At the time of his death, elected for eight more Church while he lived in Ken-as he preferred to be terms, successfully and Huntington, West Virginia. called-was the longest lived dutifully serving his district Not one to be rushed former United States for eighteen years. into marriage, Ken Congressman in American In Congress, he earned remained a bachelor until history. a reputation as a liberal he was a young 98 years Born Kenneth William Democrat. He was the old, when he married his Hechler in Roslyn, New principal architect of the longtime sweetheart, friend York, September 20, 1914, Coal Mine Safety and and companion of nearly he was the youngest son of Health Act of 1969 that for thirty years, Carol Charles H. and Catherine the first time put a ceiling Kitzmiller on August 12, Hauhart Hechler. He had on the amount of respirable 2013. In so doing, he two older brothers, George coal dust allowed in coal fulfilled his long-postponed and Charles, both of whom mines, and stipulated dream of having a wife and he survived. He graduated stringent safety regulations. son. He mused at the time, with a Bachelor of Arts Ken also served on the first “My Friend Arch Moore from , Space and Technology would be proud of me; I and earned his Master’s Committee, promoting finally married a damn degree and his Ph.D. in what would eventually Republican!” history and government become the National Air “The secret of longevity from . and Space Agency. One of is to exercise,” Hechler Ken’s life of service started his greatest personal said. “I always exercised on after graduating, when he moments came when he the tennis court (he played entered academia as a was the only sitting U.S. a wicked game of tennis, teacher and professor on Congressman to march often besting his younger the faculties of Columbia with Martin Luther King at opponents) until I had to University, Princeton Selma, Alabama, in that give that up, but I've got a University, and Barnard historic struggle for civil new hip.” College. rights for African Americans. Both his loving wife, As World War II loomed, His career in congress Carol and his son Josh Ken held a series of minor ended when he resigned Kitzmiller survive to mourn appointed positions in the his seat to run for Governor their loss of a loving, federal civil service until he of West Virginia in 1974. devoted husband and was drafted into the United Alas, the outcome of that father. Also surviving Ken States Army where he rose heated race was not what are his favorite aunt, Jackie to the rank of Major. He he’d hoped for – he lost. Queen, of Points, WV, was later promoted to Following the election he sister-in-law, Alissa Colonel while in the United resumed his teaching Charlton and brother-in- States Army Reserves. He career at Marshall law, Philip Kitzmiller of received five Bronze Battle University, the University Slanesville, WV; nieces, Stars, The American of Charleston and West Anabelle Kitzmiller and Campaign Medal, and a Virginia State University. Macenzie Charlton; two Bronze Star Medal for During this time he wrote nephews, Thomas meritorious service under another book, this one the McCormick and Grant fire. comprehensive history of Kesler all of Slanesville, During the war years, the Space and Technology WV. after graduation from titled, “Endless Space Armored Force Officer Frontier: A History of the He is also survived by Candidate School, he was House Committee on his father-in-law, Kemp assigned as a combat Science and Astronautics.” (Buck) and mother-in-law, historian in the European Just two years later, in Nancy (Joan) Kitzmiller of Theater of Operations. 1984 he ran for West Slanesville, WV and several Ken was attached to the 9th Virginia Secretary of State cousins from various parts Armored Division when and won. He was re-elected of the country. Befitting a one of its infantry-tank task in 1988, 1992, and 1996. In great man of service, action forces captured the key 1990, he again ran, in the and loyalty, Ken also leaves Ludendorff Bridge middle of his Secretarial behind scores of friends, spanning the Rhine River at term, for his old former staff members, loyal , Germany. Congressional seat, but was colleagues and supporters, Following the war, defeated by Rahall in the all of whom raise their taking advantage of his primary. voices and say, “Bravo for a French and German His term as Secretary of life well lived!” Ken very fluency, as well as in his State is most known for his truly left the world a better renown as combat historian, successful prosecution of place for his having lived in Ken was assigned to Johnie Owens, who sold his it. interview many Nazi position as sheriff of Mingo Ken will lie in repose at defendants prior to the County for $100,000. the Culture Center at the Nuremberg Trials. Owens was sentenced to Capital Complex, 1900 These experiences and fourteen years in federal Kanawha Blvd. East, many others formed the prison. Ken eventually Charleston, WV on bases of several books he persuaded the West Monday, December 19, would later write, including Virginia State Legislature 2016 from 10-3 p.m. “” to require that candidates followed by a service at the that would become turned publicly register loans, with Culture Center at 3 p.m. into a major motion picture specific terms of repayment. The family will receive of the same title, in 1969. As Secretary of State, in friends on Wednesday, Another well received 1985 he moved his legal December 21, 2016 from book, “Goering and His residence to Charleston, 4-8 p.m. at the Giffin Funeral Gang” that was a chronicle WV. Charleston is located Home & Crematory, 2807 of the interviews Ken in the 2nd District, which Northwestern Pike, Capon conducted with former was vacated in 2000 by Bridge, WV. A service in Nazi commanders- nine-term Democrat Bob Hampshire County will be including Goering himself- Wise, who was running for held at the Augusta prior to the Nuremberg governor. Ken again threw Church of Christ, 15338 trials, about their military his hat in the political ring, Northwestern Pike, strategies. but lost a three-way Augusta, WV on Thursday, Immediately following Democratic primary bid for December 22, 2016 at the war, he worked in the that seat. Also in 2000, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Cecil United States Bureau of the the age of 85, he walked Jividen and Rev. Stephon Budget and helped to 530 miles in joining Doris Reed officiating. organize and summarize Haddock (“Granny D”) in Burial will follow at the “Personal Papers of her cross country walk on Branch Mountain United Franklin Delano Roosevelt.” behalf of campaign finance Methodist Cemetery in Ken also worked as a reform, shortly before the Three Churches, WV. White House Assistant and passage of the McCain- The family asks that speechwriter for President Feingold Act. in lieu of flowers Harry Truman, and later In 2004 he ran yet contributions may be was a research director for again for his old post as made to either Hospice of presidential candidate, Secretary of State. This the Panhandle, 330 Hospice Adlai Stevenson. His book, time, he won the “Working with Truman”, Democratic primary by a Lane, Kearneysville, WV chronicled his years as one plurality, but lost the 25430 or the Ken Hechler of Truman’s advisors. general election to Scholarship Fund, C/O Eventually academia Republican Betty Ireland. The Bank of Romney, P.O. would call out to him again By this time there was a Box 876, Romney, WV and he accepted a position growing rift between him 26757. at Marshall College (now and union leaders over his Arrangements are by ) in support of tough the Giffin Funeral Home Huntington, West Virginia environmental laws, & Crematory in Capon teaching political science. thought by union leaders to Bridge, WV. Unbeknownst to him at the be at the cost of jobs. Still, To sign an online guest time he took the position, at a spry ninety-four he book, please visit this would completely remained a self-declared www.giffinfuneralhome.com