president's proclamation demanding an end to violence, after which he communicated to his superiors that troops were needed. The plan to restore order by dispatching troops worked because the miners refused to fight against soldiers many had fought alongside during World War I. When Blizzard was asked if he was the leader of the army he replied "What army, I guess the boys will listen to me alright." Later life and death After the Battle of Blair Mountain (Blizzard was considered the miners' general and leader) Blizzard was charged with treason against the state, but was acquitted. The coal operators capitalized on this opportunity to crush the union in West Virginia. UMWA leader John Lewis, who had opposed the Battle of Blair Mountain, expelled Blizzard from the union. Blizzard continued to fight for miners' rights. In 1933, in the wake of the New Deal, the UMWA was re-organized and re-invented. John Lewis gave Blizzard his job back, and in turn Blizzard was back preaching across the state as a UMWA member once again. Coal miners in West Virginia genuinely trusted Blizzard and some considered him a hero. Blizzard would eventually become president of the district 17 of the UMWA. Blizzard also became a strong opponent of the West Virginia Miners Union, created by ousted UMWA members Frank Keeney and Bill Mooney. Tension between John Lewis and Bill Blizzard continued, coming to a head when Blizzard got into a fist fight with John Lewis’ younger brother. This led to John Lewis ousting Blizzard from the UMWA in 1955. After this incident Blizzard was relieved of his duties as President of the UMWA district 17. He never forgave John Lewis for this and it is said he regretted being involved with John Lewis. Bill Blizzard retired to a farm in Putnam County in 1955. He died three years later on July 31, 1958. He was 65 years old. References Further reading External links Blair Community Center and Museum for a museum and research facility that specializes in the West Virginia Mine Wars Trade unionists from West Virginia United Mine Workers people American coal miners People acquitted of treason People from Cabin Creek, West Virginia 1892 births 1958 deaths