FLOYD COUNTY, Ky. (WMDJ) – A Floyd County businessman and philanthropist Willard Kinzer has passed away peacefully at the age of 97.

Known for his charity work and contributions to the business community of eastern Kentucky, Kinzer passed away Thursday morning, according to a family statement.

Kinzer transformed the Kinzer Water Well Company started by his father and uncle into a natural gas and oil drilling conglomerate, drilling thousands of wells across Kentucky and West Virginia since the 1950s.

A man who lived life at 200 miles per hour, Kinzer will be remembered fondly by the racing community. His passion for racing led to the formation of the Kinzer Racing Team, making multiple trips to the winner’s circle, particularly in drag racing, even at the age of 90.

His compassion for charity work helped establish the faith-based Wesley Christian School in Allen. His family has also given to countless charities when need arose in support of eastern Kentucky, especially during disasters for decades. Kinzer was also a longtime supporter of the Mountain Arts Center, where the theater is named in his family's honor.

Kinzer’s most recent charitable effort was the establishment of the Willard Kinzer Veterans Cemetery at Allen. Kinzer, a World War II veteran, collaborated with the Floyd County Fiscal Court in the creation of the cemetery in 2024 for area veterans.

Funeral arrangements for Willard Kinzer will be announced in the near future as this is a developing story.