A native West Virginian, born in Beckley, Raleigh County, West Virginia, Emmett S. Pugh III is marred to Linda (Moran) Pugh who is originally from Beckley, West Virginia also.  The Pughs have a blended family which includes Emmett S. Pugh IV (Charlie) who is married to Bridgette, and they have children Sara and Mason; Julie Christine (Morton) and spouse Chad; Michael Weston Pugh; Charity Moran Patterson who is married to Michael, and they have children Andrew and Reece; and Stephanie Morrison Laney.  The Pughs attend Family Worship Center where they are active in the Fishes and Loaves Food Ministry.

            Mr. Pugh graduated from the University of Alabama in 1973 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a specialization in State and Local Government.  His professional career began as President of Bowl-wick, Inc. for thirteen years.  He then became a broker for Wheat First Securities for two years.  He served as Councilman-at-Large for the City of Beckley from 1979 until 1988 at which time he became Mayor of the City of Beckley, a position he holds at the present time. 

            Mr. Pugh has served as the past president of the West Virginia Municipal League during 1993-94, 1997-98, and 2004-05.  He is the only person to have served three terms in the League’s history.  He has served as the Legislative Chairman of the West Virginia Municipal League during the years of 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010.  He is a past president of the 4-C Economic Development Authority and Beckley Rotary Club as well as serving as the current  Chairman of the Region I Planning and Development Council in Princeton, West Virginia, the Beckley Sanitary Board, the Pinecrest Development Corporation, and Beckley Renaissance.  Other activities include Director of the Mountain State University Foundation, Board of Directors/Vice-President and past Campaign Chair of the United Way of Southern West Virginia, a member of the Raleigh County Airport Authority, a member of the Board of Trustees for Beckley Little League, and Vice Chairman of Appalachian Regional Healthcare in Lexington, Kentucky.  He also serves as Chairman of the West Virginia Municipal Home Rule Board. 

            Awards Mr. Pugh has received include being named Past Mayor of the Year, receiving the West Virginia Municipal League Quiet Strength Award, being a recipient of four All Star Community Awards and the Paul Harris Fellow from the Beckley Rotary Club.  He was also the proud recipient of the 2009 Spirit of Beckley Award.  Mr. Pugh is a member of the National League of Cities, Moose International, NAACP, and the West Virginia Municipal League.

Mayor Pugh can be contacted at :
304-256-1750
or by email: hzhnr@beckley.org