How One Small-Town Doctor Is Helping Reshape His Community

A dying coal town famous for a vicious family feud has been rebuilding itself through an inspiring mix of cooperation and ingenuity

Dr. C. Donovan “Dino” Beckett Kevin R. Young for Radiant Life

Nestled amidst the rolling hills of the Appalachian Mountains, in the heart of coal country, lies the small town of Williamson, West Virginia. Separated from its counterpart, South Williamson, Kentucky, by the Tug Fork River, Williamson is probably best known for an infamous feud—that of the Hatfields and McCoys.

Though the area may be known best for a feud, folks in Williamson are anything but contentious. In fact, it’s such a close-knit community that one doctor had his sights set on returning home there after completing his medical training.

An Idyllic Past

Dr. C. Donovan “Dino” Beckett grew up in Williamson at a time when people still remembered its heyday. “It was still a great place to grow up when I was young, but it wasn’t what it had been,” Beckett said.