Chester Max Martin was an engineer with Westmoreland Coal Co. before his retirement and death in February of 1994. His wife, Wanda, worked for 40 years at the former New River Bank and Trust Co., now One Valley Bank, in Oak Hill before retiring in 1991. A former deacon in the First Presbyterian Church of Oak Hill, Max also was an outstanding bowler in the Beckley Area, winning tournaments and once throwing 11 consecutive strikes. In his memory, Mrs. Martin established this fund in 1994 to benefit the area in which they lived through BAF’s Annual Community Grant Program which addresses emerging community challenges and development.
