William H. Blizzard (September 19, 1892 – July 31, 1958) was an American union organizer, a commander of the miners' army during the 1921 Battle of Blair Mountain, and president of District 17 of the United Mine Workers (UMWA). Blizzard is most remembered for his role in the Battle of Blair Mountain, leading the miners against the forces of Logan County sheriff Don Chafin. For his leadership role in the battle, Blizzard was charged with treason, but was acquitted at his trial on these charges. From that time forward, he remained an important leader within the UMWA and organized labor. Early life William H. Blizzard was born on September 19, 1892 in Cabin Creek, West Virginia. He was born to his parents Timothy Blizzard and Sarah H. Blizzard. His father, Timothy, was a coal miner and his mother, Sarah, was a strong supporter of the UMWA. Sarah has been compared to Mother Jones and is also known as “Ma,” and Bill would be referred to as “Ma’s son.” At the age of ten, Bill became a coal miner and worked alongside his father. He soon would become a loyal member of the UMWA. Bill was cocky and self-confident and his family's loyalty to the UMWA was very strong, for this reason at the age of ten Bill and his family would be evicted from their home. After a tent camp was set up for evicted miners it was shot up by armed guards and it was rumored Bill's mother tore up part of the railroad in an attempt to halt the shooting of tent camps. Bill was 18 or 19 at the time his mother tried to destroy the railroad and defend tent camps full of miners. At the age of 16 Bill was already a seasoned coal miner, and it has been stated “Bill would fight at the drop of the hat and sometimes you didn’t need the hat.” By 19 Bill was already a local leader of the UMWA, and a fiercely loyal member. He would quickly go on to rise through the ranks of the UMWA. Career in UMWA At ten years old Bill Blizzard was evicted from his home along with other miners for being strong supporters of the UMWA. This mainly happened because the loyalty showed by his parents to the union. His sister would describe the eviction as “biscuits and taters thrown out and