ST. LOUIS, Mo. — The torch has been passed in one of the nation’s best known and longest standing labor organizations. Brian Sanson, a native of St. Albans, West Virginia has become the new President of the United Mine Workers of America. Sanson was sworn in as the 16th President of the union at the UMWA Special Convention in St. Louis on Wednesday.

He replaces longtime union head Cecil Roberts, a native of Cabin Creek, West Virginia.

“You can’t replace a legend, you can only follow them,” said Sanson.

“The first thing he did was had them name me President Emeritus for Life, so I guess I still got some kind of a title,” laughed Roberts soon after Sanson took the reins.

However, the two have a long history and Roberts has been long impressed with Sanson’s leadership ability, business ac

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