8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  February 17, 2010

Walter Energy, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-13711	13-3429953
(State or other jurisdiction of	Commission File No.	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation
or organization)

4211 W. Boy Scout Boulevard

Tampa, Florida 33607

(813) 871-4811

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

N/A

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed from Last Report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

oWritten communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

oSoliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02.Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements with Certain Officers

On February 17, 2010, Mr. Victor P. Patrick informed the Board of Directors of Walter Energy, Inc. (the “Company”) that he wishes to retire. Mr. Patrick has also informed the Board that he will not be seeking re-election to the Board at the Company’s annual meeting of stockholders to be held on April 21, 2010. Mr. Patrick does not sit on any committees of the Board. His decision not to stand for re-election is not the result of any disagreement with the Company. Mr. Patrick will continue to serve as the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel of the Company until his successors to those positions are named.

A copy of the press release announcing Mr. Patrick’s retirement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

Item 9.01Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)	Exhibits
99.1	Press Release dated February 22, 2010, Walter Energy Announces Retirement of Victor Patrick.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

		WALTER ENERGY, INC.
Date: February 22, 2010	By:	/s/ Catherine C. Bona
		Catherine C. Bona, Vice President
		Assistant General Counsel and Secretary

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EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

	Walter Energy, Inc.
	P.O. Box 20608
	Tampa, Florida 33622-0608 www.walterenergy.com

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 22, 2010

Investor Contact: Mark Tubb

Vice President - Investor Relations

813.871.4027

mtubb@walterenergy.com

Media Contact: Michael A. Monahan

Director - - Corporate Communications

813.871.4132

mmonahan@walterenergy.com

WALTER ENERGY ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT OF VICTOR PATRICK

(TAMPA, Fla.) - Walter Energy (NYSE: WLT), a leading U.S. producer and exporter of premium metallurgical coal for the global steel industry, announced today that Victor P. Patrick has informed the Board of Directors that he wishes to retire in order to spend more time with his family and attend to other priorities. In light of his pending retirement, Mr. Patrick has also informed the Board that he will not be seeking re-election to the Board in April.  Mr. Patrick will continue to serve as the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and General Counsel of the Company until his successors to those positions are named.

“To be part of the team that led Walter Energy through its transformation has been the most rewarding professional experience I could have ever hoped for,” said Patrick. “Now it’s time for me to turn my attention to other priorities. I am grateful to the Board, our customers, our investors, and above all to my co-workers who deserve all the credit for making this the great company that it is.”

“Vic did an excellent job leading Walter Energy through its transformation process and was a key part of the development of the Company’s go-forward strategy,” said Walter Energy Chairman Michael T. Tokarz. “We at Walter Energy appreciate Vic’s commitment to his personal priorities, thank him for all he has done for the Company, and wish him well as he begins the next chapter of his life.”

About Walter Energy

Walter Energy is a leading U.S. producer and exporter of premium hard coking coal for the global steel industry and also produces steam coal and industrial coal, metallurgical coke and coal bed methane gas. The Company has revenues of approximately $1.0 billion and employs approximately 2,100 people. For more information about Walter Energy, please visit the Company Web site at www.walterenergy.com.

WLT