William (Bill) Marsh was born on January 21, 1922 to parents Thomas and Catherine (Andrews) Marsh. Bill grew up in New Waterford attending Mount Carmel School until 1938 when he went to work at the age of sixteen in the coal mines. Bill had two sisters Stella and Eileen and has two brothers Jerry and Karl. Bill is married to Sadie (Byzenko) and they have a son William Jr., and daughters Brenda, Valerie, Ramona, Roberta and Debbie.

Bill enlisted in the navy and served four years during World War Two. He returned to New Waterford and went to work in No. 12 Colliery, then transferred to No. 16, where he began his ascendancy in the United Mine Workers. In 1958, he was elected president of the U.M.W. District 26, encompassing the coal industry of the Maritimes.

In 1980, after 22 years as District President, he became head of the Coal Council of Canada. He has also served on the Advisory Board for Research and Development at Queen's University's Centre for Resource Studies, as well as the UCCB Board of Governors, the Board of the Atlantic Foundation for Occupational Health and Safety, and the National Parole Board. In 1995 he received his Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa from the University College of Cape Breton.

Bill has had an extraordinary career but his true love began in New Waterford back in the early thirties when he was introduced to sports. Bill loves all sports and was an excellent athlete. From 1935-1951 he played: Midget, Juvenile, Junior and Senior Baseball, Hockey, Basketball, Rugby and Track and Field. In 1939 his team, the Mount Carmel Strands won the Maritime Juvenile Basketball Title. In 1945-46 his team won the Cape Breton Senior Hockey Title. Bill went on to play semi-pro baseball with the Kentville Wildcats in 1947-48 in the Nova Scotia Central League. He also went on to play semi-pro hockey and baseball with the New Waterford Strands and the navy from 1948-1950.

In 1951 he started another love, the love to coach. He coached Little League, Junior and Senior Baseball in New Waterford and Sydney Mines from 1951-56 winning the Little League Title with the Giants in 1952. Also in 1952 he was a playing coach of the New Waterford Intermediate Hockey Team. He coached the New Waterford Comets Intermediate Softball team to the Maritime Title; he also coached the New Waterford Dodgers of the Cape Breton Senior League. Bill was always involved in sports as a player, a coach, an umpire and supporter. He started on 9th Street in New Waterford and has played with some of the best pro and semi pro athletes of his time. He has passed his passion on to his siblings and to his own family, and today his grandson Christian Head is playing on the Coal Bowl 2003 BEC Bears Team. Around here Bill Marsh has always been known as "Bull". Rarely does a nickname fit so well with its suggestion of strength, energy, passion and courage.

It is with honor that the Coal Bowl Board of Directors name William H. Marsh a Division Chairperson for the Coal Bowl Classic 2003.

Frank "Smoothie" Burns is a New Waterford native who was a valued member of the town's athletic community. During his formative years "Smoothie" was involved in sports as early as his grade school years and this continued through his high school years at Mount Carmel High where he was a valued member of the basketball and rugby teams. After high school, "Smoothie" was instrumental in reorganizing the highly successful New Waterford Strands Basketball team where he was a valued member with his court leadership and strong play at both ends of the floor.

"Smoothie" played all sports, but it was basketball, rugby and baseball where he excelled. He was a leader on the court and a field general on the baseball and rugby fields. "Smoothie" was known as a competitor who was very tough both mentally and physically and was looked upon by his teammates as a "clutch" performer. He played on championship teams ranging in scope from Cape Breton Championships to Maritime Championships in Rugby, Baseball and Basketball.

"Smoothie" also spent considerable time passing on his knowledge to the younger athletes in New Waterford while he served as a Physical Education Teacher at Mount Carmel High School. During his years as a Physical Education Teacher he coached the boys and girls basketball teams and led the soccer team to the provincial Champion- ship in 1960. "Smoothie" continued his coaching career when he moved to New Brunswick, coaching senior basketball and fastball in Dorchester.

"Smoothie" and his wife, the former Edna MacDonald of St. Agnes basketball fame, have four children, Linda, Gail, Frankie and David. They continue to reside in Dorchester where Frank was employed with Corrections Canada for 33 years until his retirement in 1995. The New Waterford Coal Bowl is honored to have Frank "Smoothie" Burns serve as a Division Chairperson for Coal Bowl 2003.