BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ, Ky. — The story of Martin Himler and the historic coal town of Himlerville is gaining international attention with the announcement of a new documentary project led by award-winning filmmaker and East Tennessee State University professor Stokes Piercy.
ETSU announced in a press release that Piercy has been named a 2025–26 Fulbright Scholar by the Hungarian-American Fulbright Commission. As part of the prestigious program, he will travel to Hungary to research and produce a feature-length documentary titled “Himler: From Coal to Colonel.”
The film will focus on the life of Martin Himler, a Hungarian Jewish immigrant who passed through Ellis Island in 1908 and later founded Himlerville—now known as Beauty—in Martin County, Kentucky. Himler created an immigrant-run cooperative mining town where Hungarian families owned stock in the Himler Coal Company and operated independently of the scrip systems common in company towns of the time.
After leaving eastern Kentucky, Himler served as a decorated intelligence officer during World War II. As part of the Office of Strategic Services—the forerunner of the CIA—he interrogated more than 300 Nazi war criminals, contributing to justice in the wake of the Holocaust. His postwar contributions earned him posthumous recognition from the United States Congress in the form of a Congressional Gold Medal.
Piercy’s goal is to bridge cultures and shared history between Hungary and Appalachia through Himler’s story.
“I am honored to be selected as a Fulbright Scholar and among the esteemed awardees across the globe,” Piercy said in the release. “Fulbright is built on cultural exchange — the idea that when we share our stories across borders, we create empathy, connection and insight. That’s what I hope to bring to the table as both a scholar and filmmaker.”
Piercy’s film will document Himler’s legacy as both a coal town founder and a wartime interrogator.
The documentary’s focus is especially significant to Martin County, where the Martin County Historical and Genealogical Society is working to restore the Martin Himler House. The structure, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and under consideration as a National Landmark, is undergoing restoration as a future site for education, research and heritage tourism.
Piercy, a native of Appalachia, brings regional knowledge and creative expertise to the project. His previous films—including “John Dee,” “A Rare Breed,” “Dear Destiny,” and “The Heart of Sullivan County”—have earned 14 international awards and selections at more than 30 film festivals. He teaches production, screenwriting, media theory and brand storytelling at ETSU, where he also mentors students and contributes to scholarship in popular film, mythology and identity.
Dr. Brian Noland, ETSU president, praised Piercy’s selection.
“Stokes Piercy exemplifies the kind of innovation and leadership that define East Tennessee State University,” Noland said in a prepared statement. “Through creative work, scholarship and public impact, he represents the very best of our institution — and we are immensely proud of his Fulbright recognition.”
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange, established in 1946. With over 400,000 alumni in more than 160 countries, the program promotes mutual understanding through teaching, research and collaboration.
Dr. Carson Medley, assistant dean of ETSU’s Honors College and director of the university’s Office of Prestigious Awards, said Piercy’s selection reflects both individual merit and institutional support.
“Fulbright is about mutual understanding and meaningful exchange, and Stokes is the kind of educator who will carry that mission forward with heart and purpose,” Medley said.
Production of “Himler: From Coal to Colonel” will begin during the 2025–26 academic year. Once completed, the film is expected to reach audiences through festivals, academic screenings and international distribution. For Martin County, it marks a major opportunity to elevate one of its most historically unique stories on a global stage.