West Virginia

John “Nolan” Hays

Published

2 weeks ago

December 29, 2025

John “Nolan” Hays

John “Nolan” Hays of Mineral Wells, West Virginia, passed away surrounded by loved ones on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, at the age of 79.

Known as Nolan to his family and many of his friends, as John to most people he met while living in Mineral Wells or through business connections, none of these were as meaningful to him as his titles of Husband, Grandad, Father, Brother, Cousin, and Friend.

Born at home in Gilmer County, West Virginia, on July 31, 1946, to his loving parents, John Newton Hays and Floda “Irene” (Groves) Hays, Nolan had a happy childhood on his family farm where he learned by his parents’ example what was important in life, played with his dogs and work horses (Pat and Mike), and school friends, many of whom he remained close to throughout his long life. He often said that he couldn’t have had better parents, better friends, or a better childhood.

Nolan was the only child of his parents’ marriage and had four older sisters-Viona, Jean, Betty Joe, and Marge. He maintained close and loving relationships with each of them and with their families. Nolan’s friends from his time in Glenville and Mineral Wells also became like family to him, and he loved each of them deeply.

Nolan attended Glenville High School, where he graduated in 1964 as a varsity letterman in football, baseball, and basketball. His friends recall that he was an excellent athlete and a wonderful friend.

From Glenville High, he went on to study at Glenville State College, where he met his extraordinary wife, Patricia Ann Greer.

Nolan made what he would call the best decision of his life when he married his wife, Patricia, on May 4, 1968. Their marriage has been a beautiful example of true love to the family, and their devotion to one another was unparalleled. Nolan and Patricia cared tirelessly for each other and remained devoted through each of life’s triumphs and trials for the entirety of their 57 years of marriage.

Soon after marrying, Nolan enlisted in the United States Army Reserves. He remained proud of his service to his country.

Nolan and Patricia had two sons early in their marriage, Joe and Shawn, of whom he was immensely proud. He was a loving, proud, and devoted father who was actively involved in every aspect of his sons’ lives, providing them with yearly family trips, coaching their sports teams, and being a vocal spectator at their events. Some of his most cherished memories were golfing with his sons, and he often said that a game of golf with them was the best gift he could receive. Joe and Shawn loved, respected, and admired their father deeply and felt that they were the luckiest kids in the world to have him as a father.

Nolan was an equally devoted grandfather to his four adoring granddaughters-Morgan, Caroline, Samantha, and Aniston-who esteem him as the best Grandad who ever walked the earth. He will be remembered by his granddaughters as the smell of cigar smoke, a sunny day on a golf course; as someone who would have died for them, who loved his family fiercely; as the best-dressed man in the room, a master of dry humor, a talented golfer, a gifted storyteller, and one of their best friends.

Nolan had a long and fulfilling career in banking and business. Throughout his career, he worked at various banks and savings & loan establishments; he retired from Williamstown National Bank, where he was senior vice president and served on the board of directors. He was known to give people a chance, to give them the gift of their first home or their own business, when no one else would.

Aside from family and friends, Nolan’s greatest passion was golf. He spent countless hours golfing with friends and even played the legendary course at St. Andrews in Scotland, where he traveled with his wife Patricia and friends. Nolan also loved the beach, where he spent much of his time. He loved to travel, and saw much of the world.

At home, he could be found on the front porch on nice days (when not on the golf course), smoking a cigar and talking to the neighbors who passed by. On game days, he could be found watching the Mountaineers play in his chair on the back porch.

Nolan was amazingly generous, unfailingly brave, and so very kind. He exhorted those he loved to be the very best they could be, and he had the kind of voice that people want to listen to.

Nolan was preceded in death by his parents, John and Irene Hays; his sisters-Viona, Jean, Betty Joe, and Marge; and his brother, Charles Newton, who died in childhood before Nolan was born.

Nolan’s memory is cherished by his peerlessly devoted wife of 57 years, Patricia Ann Hays; his two loving sons, John Joseph Hays and wife Kris (of Clarksburg, West Virginia) and Shawn Patrick Hays and wife Liza Taylor (of Whittier, California); his four adoring granddaughters-Morgan Virginia Hays Riddle, Caroline Olivia Hays, Samantha Jo Hays, and Aniston Patricia Hays Riddle (great-granddaughter); innumerable friends, cherished golfing buddies, and beloved family members; and his pet cat, whom he lovingly called “Pup.”

Nolan was a great man, and his family will carry on his memory and legacy with honor, gratitude, and love.

A Memorial Service will be held Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at 3:00 pm at the Leavitt Funeral Home, Parkersburg with Reverend Chuck Furbee officiating.

Visitation will be Tuesday 1-3pm at the funeral home.

Donations may be made in his memory to House to Homes, 827 7th Street, Parkersburg, WV 26101.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.LeavittFuneralHome.com.

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West Virginia

Milos Uzan’s 17 points leads No. 7 Houston in 77-48 win over West Virginia

Published

8 hours ago

January 14, 2026

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Milos Uzan’s 17 points leads No. 7 Houston in 77-48 win over West Virginia

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West Virginia

West Virginia Online Casino Payout Methods: Best Withdrawal Options In 2026

Published

20 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

West Virginia Online Casino Payout Methods: Best Withdrawal Options In 2026

Online casino revenue has never been higher in West Virginia.

That means plenty of customers are making deposits and playing games.

But, one of the keys to being among the top online casinos in West Virginia is having reliable and secure payout methods.

Online players need to know they will be able to receive their winnings in a timely and legal fashion. While iGaming platforms often promote their deposit methods, we’re taking a closer look at the available withdrawal options.

Top WV Online Casino Payout Methods

Options for withdrawing funds from a West Virginia online casino are a little more limited than deposit options.

Online casino operators are also slower to provide a withdrawal than a deposit, as they tend to review with payout to ensure the funds are going to the right person in a secured way.

Here’s a breakdown of the available withdrawal options for WV online casino players.

Online Banking

Online casinos typically use a company like Trustly to complete secure online banking transfers to make payouts.

This method will see the winnings deposited directly into the bank account that you provide.

Thousands of banks participate in these programs, so your bank is likely covered. Withdrawals can take 24 hours for online casinos to review, then 3-5 business days for your bank to process the funds.

eCheck/ACH

Most online casinos use VIP Preferred as a banking method option. This is a way to transfer funds through an electronic check that is done through ACH (Automated Clearing House). It’s the same option many companies use for making direct deposit payments to employees.

Electronic checks take 1-2 business days to be processed.

Debit Card

Debit cards are payment cards linked directly to your bank account. Most WV online casinos accept Visa and Mastercard from customers.

In many cases, the operator will require a user to make a deposit with the debit card before accepting any withdrawals being credited to the card. Payouts using a debit card will send the funds directly to your bank account.

Transactions using a debit card should appear in under 24 hours.

Apple Pay

Apple Pay is an option that is available. It is a virtual wallet that holds debit and credit cards for customers. It is a convenient option for iPhone users that use mobile online casino platforms.

Payouts using Apple Pay are typically reflected in under 24 hours.

PayPal

PayPal is a virtual wallet that users can attach their debit cards or bank accounts to.

Online casinos require customers to have a Personal or Premier PayPal account if they are looking to use it as a payout method.

Withdrawals using PayPal take 1-2 business days to appear in your account.

Venmo

Another virtual wallet option that is owned by PayPal, Venmo links a user’s bank account and banking cards.

Just one Venmo account is allowed per customer at a given WV online casino.

Venmo withdrawals take 1-2 business days to appear in your account.

Play+

Play+ is an account that customers fund and then use those funds for various things like online gaming or online gambling.

West Virginia iGamers can fund and make deposits to their Play+ account through online casinos. In order to get a payout with your Play+ account, you must first make a deposit using the same account.

Payouts using Play+ should appear in your account in 24-48 hours.

Cash at Casino

Some online casinos will work with their retail partners for deposit and withdrawals.

Users have the option to visit the participating the retail casino location, make a cash withdrawal from their online account based on the funds they have available.

For this option, customers will need to have a valid ID photo and a transaction ID number from the online casino.

Wire Transfer

A wire transfer moves funds electronically from one account to another. However, this method is typically used for large sums or international banking.

West Virginia online casinos require large minimums in order to make a withdrawal using this method. These minimums are thousands of dollars.

Wire transfers tend to take 1-2 business days to take effect.

Check by Mail

If no other options work for you, West Virginia online casinos in most cases are willing to send you a paper check with your winnings.

Most require a certain minimum amount in order to use this method. Checks can take up to 14 business days to reach a user once sent.

Drew Ellis has experience covering the gambling industries in North America and around the world. Decades of media experience provide him with the background to handle the complexities of different gambling laws and policies around the United States and North America. Ellis has primarily focused on online and retail casino news since 2021. Prior to working in the gambling industry, Ellis spent over 20 years in the newspaper industry, covering sports and the gambling. His work for The Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun and The Oakland Press was recognized with awards by the Associated Press and other media organizations. Drew has also contributed to the Detroit Free Press and the Associated Press.

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West Virginia

Oldest Toughman Contest in West Virginia returns for 47th year

Published

1 day ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

Oldest Toughman Contest in West Virginia returns for 47th year

CLARKSBURG, W.Va (WDTV) – The Toughman Contest will return to Clarksburg this weekend for its 47th year, with the Nathan Goff Armory hosting the event for the 45th consecutive time.

The tournament was founded in 1979 in Bay City, Michigan by Art Dore, a former professional boxer. Dore later teamed up with Jerry Thomas to bring the event to West Virginia.

The contest is designed for amateur boxers, with no professionals allowed to compete. A new rule introduced this year prohibits former winners from competing in future Toughman contests.

“The event is three 1-minute rounds. Everyone wears 16 oz. gloves which is a training glove. There’s no headgear required for this now, hasn’t been for about 7 or 8 years and they get a one-minute rest between each round. We’ll have experienced trainers in each corner,” said Jerry Thomas, president of West Virginia Sports Promotions.

Two doctors will be ringside along with paramedics and EMTs from Harrison County Emergency Squad to tend to fighters after their bouts.

The tournament features five weight classes for both men and women. Fighters will weigh in Friday at 4 p.m., where matchmakers will determine opponents based on age, size and experience.

The single-elimination tournament begins Friday night, with all participants fighting once before returning Saturday to advance through the bracket until winners are crowned.

“The winners here in the men’s division will take home $1,000 for first place prize. The runner-up in each weight class will receive $500. The winner receives a nice Toughman jacket that you can only obtain by winning the tournament or working for the company,” Thomas said.

The weekend will also feature two professional fights. Friday’s bout will be a four-round super middleweight contest, and Saturday will feature an eight-round title fight for the vacant West Virginia cruiserweight championship.

Tickets and live streaming options can be purchased on their website. Remaining tickets will be sold at the door before the event begins at 7 p.m.

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