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    <TD align="center" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 23, 2004</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>


<TR>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="bottom"> Registration No.</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
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<P align="center" style="font-size: 14pt">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 12pt">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
</DIV>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 18pt">FORM S-8


<P align="center" style="font-size: 12pt">REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>
UNDER<BR>
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


<P align="center" style="font-size: 24pt">CHAMPION INDUSTRIES, INC.
<HR size="1" noshade width="100%" align="center">


<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="47%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
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<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom">West Virginia
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom">55-0717455</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom"><HR size="1" noshade width="100%" align="center">
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom"><HR size="1" noshade width="100%" align="center"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom">(State or other jurisdiction of<BR>
incorporation or organization)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="top">(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="bottom">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2450 First Avenue<BR>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;P. O. Box 2968<BR>
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Huntington, West Virginia
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom">25728</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom"><HR size="1" noshade width="100%" align="center">
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom"><HR size="1" noshade width="100%" align="center"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD align="left" valign="bottom">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="center" valign="bottom">Zip Code</TD>
</TR>

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</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">CHAMPION INDUSTRIES, INC. 2003 STOCK OPTION PLAN<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade width="100%" align="center">



<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Full Title of the Plan)</DIV>

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
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<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="center"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Todd R. Fry, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer</DIV></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="center"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;P.O. Box 2968, Huntington, West Virginia 25728-2968</DIV></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px"><HR size="1" noshade width="100%" align="center"></DIV></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top" align="center"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Name and address of agent for service)</DIV></TD>
</TR>

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</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">304-528-2791<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade width="100%" align="center">



<DIV align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)</DIV>


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE<BR>
<HR size="1" noshade width="100%" align="center">


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="33%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="6%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="4%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="9%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="10%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Proposed</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>&nbsp;</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>maximum</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>maximum</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount of</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Title of Securities to be</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Amount to be</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>offering price</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>aggregate</B></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>registration</B></TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>registered</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>registered</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>per share (1)</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>offering price</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>fee</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
</TR>

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    <TD><DIV style="margin-left:10px; text-indent:-10px">Common Stock
$1.00 par value</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">475,000</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">4.745</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">2,253,875</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right">$</TD>
    <TD align="right">286</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

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</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="1%" nowrap align="right">(1)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>Estimated solely for purpose of computing the registration fee based upon
the average of the high and low trade prices of the Common Stock as
reported on the NASDAQ NMS on March&nbsp;15, 2004.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Exhibit&nbsp;Index on page 9.



<P align="right" style="font-size: 10pt">Page 1 of 11 pages.



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<!-- link1 "PART I" -->

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">PART I



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS


<!-- link2 "ITEM 1. Plan Information" -->

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">ITEM 1. <U>Plan Information</U>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not filed as part of this Registration Statement pursuant to Note to Part&nbsp;I of Form S-8.

<!-- link2 "ITEM 2.Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information" -->

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">ITEM 2. <U>Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information</U>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not filed as part of this Registration Statement pursuant to Note to Part&nbsp;I of Form S-8.

<!-- link1 "PART II" -->

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">PART II



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT


<!-- link2 "ITEM 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference" -->

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">ITEM 3. <U>Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</U>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Champion Industries, Inc.&#146;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
October&nbsp;31, 2003, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January
26, 2004, and all other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the &#147;Commission&#148;) pursuant to the requirements of Section 13(a) or
Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 since that date are hereby
incorporated by reference.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The &#147;Description of Capital Stock&#148; contained in Registration Statement on
Form S-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on March&nbsp;9, 1998, File No.&nbsp;333-47585, is hereby
incorporated by reference.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Any definitive Proxy Statement or Information Statement filed pursuant to
Section&nbsp;14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and all reports which may be
filed with the Commission pursuant to Sections&nbsp;13, 14 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the date hereof prior to the
completion of the offering contemplated hereby, shall also be deemed to be
incorporated herein by reference and to be made a part hereof from the date of
filing such documents.

<!-- link2 " ITEM 4. Description of Securities" -->

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">ITEM 4. <U>Description of Securities.</U>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not Applicable.

<!-- link2 " ITEM 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel" -->

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">ITEM 5. <U>Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.</U>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not Applicable.



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">2
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<!-- link2 " ITEM 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers" -->

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">ITEM 6. <U>Indemnification of Directors and Officers.</U>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Article&nbsp;VIII of the Registrant&#146;s By-Laws provides as follows:



<P align="left" style="margin-left:2%; font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Each director and officer of this corporation, or former
director or officer of this corporation, or any person who may
have served at its request as a director or officer of another
corporation, his heirs and personal representatives, shall be
indemnified by this corporation against costs and expenses at any
time reasonably incurred by him arising out of or in connection
with any claim, action, suit or proceeding, civil or criminal,
against him or to which he may be made a party by reason of his
being or having been such director or officer except in relation
to matters as to which he shall be adjudged in such action, suit
or proceeding to be liable for gross negligence or willful
misconduct in the performance of a duty to the corporation. If in
the judgement of the board of directors of this corporation a
settlement of any claim, action, suit or proceeding so arising be
deemed in the best interests of the corporation, any such director
or officer shall be reimbursed for any amounts paid by him in
effecting such settlement and reasonable expenses incurred in
connection therewith. The foregoing right of indemnification
shall be in addition to any and all rights to which any director
or officer may be entitled as a matter of law.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with certain
directors and executive officers of the Registrant, including the directors who
are also employees of the Registrant, to confirm and expand the Registrant&#146;s
obligation to indemnify such persons. The indemnification contracts with the
directors and officers (i)&nbsp;confirm the indemnity provided to them by the
Registrant&#146;s Bylaws and give them assurances that this indemnity will continue
to be provided despite future changes in the Bylaws, and (ii)&nbsp;provide that, in
addition, the directors and officers shall be indemnified to the fullest
possible extent permitted by law against all expenses (including attorneys&#146;
fees), judgments, fines and settlement amounts, paid or incurred by them in any
action or proceeding, including any action by or in the right of the
Registrant, on account of their service as a director or officer of the
Registrant or as a director or officer of any subsidiary of the Registrant or
as a director or officer of any other company or enterprise when they are
serving in such capacities at the request of the Registrant. The
indemnification contracts provide that no indemnification will be permitted if
a final court adjudication shall determine that such indemnification is not
lawful, or in respect of any suit in which judgment is rendered against a
director or officer for an accounting of profits made from a purchase or sale
of securities of the Registrant in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 or of any similar statutory law, or on account of any
remuneration paid to a director or officer which is adjudicated to have been
paid in violation of law.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Champion Industries, Inc. is a West Virginia corporation subject to the
applicable indemnification provisions of the West Virginia Business Corporation
Act. The foregoing indemnity provisions have the effect of reducing directors&#146;
and officers&#146; exposure to personal liability for actions taken in connection
with their respective positions.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
Champion Industries, Inc. pursuant to


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">3
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Champion Industries, Inc. has been
advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of
1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by Champion
Industries, Inc. of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of Champion Industries, Inc. in the successful defense of
any action, suite or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, Champion
Industries, Inc. will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

<!-- link2 " ITEM 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed" -->

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">ITEM 7. <U>Exemption from Registration Claimed.</U>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not Applicable

<!-- link2 " ITEM 8. Exhibits" -->

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">ITEM 8. <U>Exhibits.</U>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;See the Exhibit&nbsp;Index attached hereto.

<!-- link2 " ITEM 9. Undertakings" -->

<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">ITEM 9. <U>Undertakings.</U>



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A.&nbsp;The undersigned Registrant, CHAMPION INDUSTRIES, INC. hereby
undertakes:


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="right">(1)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="7%" nowrap align="right">(i)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>To include any prospectus required by
section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="7%" nowrap align="right">(ii)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>To reflect in the prospectus any
facts or events arising after the effective date of the
registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or
in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
information set forth in the registration statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease
in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar
value of securities offered would not exceed that which
was registered) and any deviation from the low or high
end of the estimated maximum offering range may be
reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC
pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20%
change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth
in the &#147;Calculation of Registration Fee&#148; table in the
effective registration statement; and</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">4
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">


<P><TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">



</TABLE>


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="7%" nowrap align="right">(iii)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>To include any material information
with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material
change to such information in the registration
statement;</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">provided, however, that paragraphs A(1)(i) and A(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC
by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration
statement.


<P>
<TABLE width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-size: 10pt">

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="right">(2)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.</TD>
</TR>

<TR>
    <TD colspan="5">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="top" style="font-size: 10pt; color: #000000; background: transparent">
    <TD width="3%" nowrap align="right">(3)</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold
at the termination of the offering.</TD>
</TR>

</TABLE>


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;B.&nbsp;The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant&#146;s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;C.&nbsp;Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">5
</DIV>

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<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<!-- link1 "SIGNATURES" -->

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">SIGNATURES



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Huntington, State of West Virginia, on March&nbsp;17,
2004.

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="50%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="3%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="2%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="43%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD colspan="3" valign="top" align="left">CHAMPION INDUSTRIES, INC.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">By
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ Marshall T. Reynolds</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><HR size="1" noshade width="60%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Marshall T. Reynolds</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chairman of the Board of Directors and
Chief<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Executive Officer</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">By
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ Kirby J. Taylor</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><HR size="1" noshade width="60%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kirby J. Taylor</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;President and Chief Operating Officer</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">By
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ Todd R. Fry</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><HR size="1" noshade width="60%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Todd R. Fry, Vice President<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and
Chief Financial Officer<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer)</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">6
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">




<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">POWER OF ATTORNEY



<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We, the undersigned officers and directors of Champion Industries, Inc.,
hereby severally constitute and appoint Kirby J. Taylor, or in his absence,
Todd R. Fry, our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power
of substitution and resubstitution, for us and in our stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement and all documents relating thereto,
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority
to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary or advisable to be
done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;WITNESS our hands and common seal on the dates set forth below.


<P align="left" style="font-size: 10pt">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="65%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">March&nbsp;15, 2004
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ Louis J. Akers</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><HR size="1" noshade width="60%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Louis J. Akers, Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">March&nbsp;15, 2004
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ Phillip E. Cline</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><HR size="1" noshade width="60%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Philip E. Cline, Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">March&nbsp;15, 2004
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ Charles R. Hooten, Jr.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><HR size="1" noshade width="60%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Charles R. Hooten, Jr., Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">March&nbsp;15, 2004
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ Harley F. Mooney, Jr.</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><HR size="1" noshade width="60%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Harley F. Mooney, Jr., Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">March&nbsp;15, 2004
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ A. Michael Perry</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><HR size="1" noshade width="60%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">A. Michael Perry, Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">March&nbsp;15, 2004
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ Marshall T. Reynolds</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><HR size="1" noshade width="60%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Marshall T. Reynolds, Director</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">7
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">

<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="30%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="65%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">March&nbsp;15, 2004
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ Neal W. Scaggs</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><HR size="1" noshade width="60%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Neal W. Scaggs, Director</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">March&nbsp;15, 2004
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">/s/ Glenn W. Wilcox</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top"><HR size="1" noshade width="60%" align="left"></TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Glenn W. Wilcox, Director</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">8
</DIV>

<!-- PAGEBREAK -->
<P><HR noshade><P>
<H5 align="left" style="page-break-before:always">&nbsp;</H5><P>

<DIV style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif">



<!-- link1 "EXHIBIT INDEX" -->

<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">EXHIBIT INDEX



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT<BR>
CHAMPION INDUSTRIES, INC.


<DIV align="center">
<TABLE style="font-size: 10pt" cellspacing="0" border="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%">
<!-- Begin Table Head -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD width="14%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="73%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="5%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD width="1%">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>
<TR style="font-size: 8pt" valign="bottom">
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Exhibit No.</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center"><B>Description of Exhibit</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="center" colspan="3"><B>Sequential Page No.</B><HR size="1" noshade></TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Head -->
<!-- Begin Table Body -->
<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">5
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Opinion of Huddleston, Bolen
Beatty, Porter &#038; Copen LLP as to
legality
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">10</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.1
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Ernst &#038; Young LLP
</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">11</TD>
    <TD nowrap valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">23.2
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Consent of Huddleston, Bolen LLP (filed
as part of the opinion at Exhibit&nbsp;5)</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">&nbsp;</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<TR valign="bottom">
    <TD valign="top"><DIV style="margin-left:0px; text-indent:-0px">24
</DIV></TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="left" valign="top">Power of attorney is contained
elsewhere in Part II of this
Registration Statement</TD>
    <TD>&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD nowrap align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD align="right" valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
    <TD valign="top">&nbsp;</TD>
</TR>

<!-- End Table Body -->
</TABLE>
</DIV>



<P align="center" style="font-size: 10pt">9
</DIV>

</BODY>
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sv8
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 23, 2004
Registration No.
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CHAMPION INDUSTRIES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
West Virginia
55-0717455
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
2450 First Avenue
P. O. Box 2968
Huntington, West Virginia
25728
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Zip Code
CHAMPION INDUSTRIES, INC. 2003 STOCK OPTION PLAN
(Full Title of the Plan)
Todd R. Fry, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
P.O. Box 2968, Huntington, West Virginia 25728-2968
(Name and address of agent for service)
304-528-2791
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Proposed
Proposed
maximum
maximum
Amount of
Title of Securities to be
Amount to be
offering price
aggregate
registration
registered
registered
per share (1)
offering price
fee
Common Stock
$1.00 par value
475,000
$
4.745
$
2,253,875
$
286
(1)
Estimated solely for purpose of computing the registration fee based upon
the average of the high and low trade prices of the Common Stock as
reported on the NASDAQ NMS on March 15, 2004.
Exhibit Index on page 9.
Page 1 of 11 pages.
PART I
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
ITEM 1.
Plan Information
Not filed as part of this Registration Statement pursuant to Note to Part I of Form S-8.
ITEM 2.
Registrant Information and Employee Plan Annual Information
Not filed as part of this Registration Statement pursuant to Note to Part I of Form S-8.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 3.
Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
Champion Industries, Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
October 31, 2003, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January
26, 2004, and all other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to the requirements of Section 13(a) or
Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 since that date are hereby
incorporated by reference.
The "Description of Capital Stock" contained in Registration Statement on
Form S-2 under the Securities Act of 1933 filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on March 9, 1998, File No. 333-47585, is hereby
incorporated by reference.
Any definitive Proxy Statement or Information Statement filed pursuant to
Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and all reports which may be
filed with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the date hereof prior to the
completion of the offering contemplated hereby, shall also be deemed to be
incorporated herein by reference and to be made a part hereof from the date of
filing such documents.
ITEM 4.
Description of Securities.
Not Applicable.
ITEM 5.
Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not Applicable.
2
ITEM 6.
Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Article VIII of the Registrant's By-Laws provides as follows:
Each director and officer of this corporation, or former
director or officer of this corporation, or any person who may
have served at its request as a director or officer of another
corporation, his heirs and personal representatives, shall be
indemnified by this corporation against costs and expenses at any
time reasonably incurred by him arising out of or in connection
with any claim, action, suit or proceeding, civil or criminal,
against him or to which he may be made a party by reason of his
being or having been such director or officer except in relation
to matters as to which he shall be adjudged in such action, suit
or proceeding to be liable for gross negligence or willful
misconduct in the performance of a duty to the corporation. If in
the judgement of the board of directors of this corporation a
settlement of any claim, action, suit or proceeding so arising be
deemed in the best interests of the corporation, any such director
or officer shall be reimbursed for any amounts paid by him in
effecting such settlement and reasonable expenses incurred in
connection therewith. The foregoing right of indemnification
shall be in addition to any and all rights to which any director
or officer may be entitled as a matter of law.
The Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with certain
directors and executive officers of the Registrant, including the directors who
are also employees of the Registrant, to confirm and expand the Registrant's
obligation to indemnify such persons. The indemnification contracts with the
directors and officers (i) confirm the indemnity provided to them by the
Registrant's Bylaws and give them assurances that this indemnity will continue
to be provided despite future changes in the Bylaws, and (ii) provide that, in
addition, the directors and officers shall be indemnified to the fullest
possible extent permitted by law against all expenses (including attorneys'
fees), judgments, fines and settlement amounts, paid or incurred by them in any
action or proceeding, including any action by or in the right of the
Registrant, on account of their service as a director or officer of the
Registrant or as a director or officer of any subsidiary of the Registrant or
as a director or officer of any other company or enterprise when they are
serving in such capacities at the request of the Registrant. The
indemnification contracts provide that no indemnification will be permitted if
a final court adjudication shall determine that such indemnification is not
lawful, or in respect of any suit in which judgment is rendered against a
director or officer for an accounting of profits made from a purchase or sale
of securities of the Registrant in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 or of any similar statutory law, or on account of any
remuneration paid to a director or officer which is adjudicated to have been
paid in violation of law.
Champion Industries, Inc. is a West Virginia corporation subject to the
applicable indemnification provisions of the West Virginia Business Corporation
Act. The foregoing indemnity provisions have the effect of reducing directors'
and officers' exposure to personal liability for actions taken in connection
with their respective positions.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
Champion Industries, Inc. pursuant to
3
the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, Champion Industries, Inc. has been
advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of
1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by Champion
Industries, Inc. of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of Champion Industries, Inc. in the successful defense of
any action, suite or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, Champion
Industries, Inc. will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
ITEM 7.
Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not Applicable
ITEM 8.
Exhibits.
See the Exhibit Index attached hereto.
ITEM 9.
Undertakings.
A. The undersigned Registrant, CHAMPION INDUSTRIES, INC. hereby
undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)
To include any prospectus required by
section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii)
To reflect in the prospectus any
facts or events arising after the effective date of the
registration statement (or the most recent
post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or
in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
information set forth in the registration statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease
in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar
value of securities offered would not exceed that which
was registered) and any deviation from the low or high
end of the estimated maximum offering range may be
reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC
pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the
changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20%
change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth
in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
effective registration statement; and
4
(iii)
To include any material information
with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material
change to such information in the registration
statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs A(1)(i) and A(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC
by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration
statement.
(2)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold
at the termination of the offering.
B. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
C. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
5
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Huntington, State of West Virginia, on March 17,
2004.
CHAMPION INDUSTRIES, INC.
By
/s/ Marshall T. Reynolds
Marshall T. Reynolds
Chairman of the Board of Directors and
Chief
Executive Officer
By
/s/ Kirby J. Taylor
Kirby J. Taylor
President and Chief Operating Officer
By
/s/ Todd R. Fry
Todd R. Fry, Vice President
and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal
Financial and Accounting Officer)
6
POWER OF ATTORNEY
We, the undersigned officers and directors of Champion Industries, Inc.,
hereby severally constitute and appoint Kirby J. Taylor, or in his absence,
Todd R. Fry, our true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power
of substitution and resubstitution, for us and in our stead, in any and all
capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement and all documents relating thereto,
and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in
connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission granting unto
said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority
to do and perform each and every act and thing necessary or advisable to be
done in and about the premises, as fully and to all intents and purposes as he
might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said
attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their substitute or
substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
WITNESS our hands and common seal on the dates set forth below.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration
Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
March 15, 2004
/s/ Louis J. Akers
Louis J. Akers, Director
March 15, 2004
/s/ Phillip E. Cline
Philip E. Cline, Director
March 15, 2004
/s/ Charles R. Hooten, Jr.
Charles R. Hooten, Jr., Director
March 15, 2004
/s/ Harley F. Mooney, Jr.
Harley F. Mooney, Jr., Director
March 15, 2004
/s/ A. Michael Perry
A. Michael Perry, Director
March 15, 2004
/s/ Marshall T. Reynolds
Marshall T. Reynolds, Director
7
March 15, 2004
/s/ Neal W. Scaggs
Neal W. Scaggs, Director
March 15, 2004
/s/ Glenn W. Wilcox
Glenn W. Wilcox, Director
8
EXHIBIT INDEX
FORM S-8 REGISTRATION STATEMENT
CHAMPION INDUSTRIES, INC.
Exhibit No.
Description of Exhibit
Sequential Page No.
5
Opinion of Huddleston, Bolen
Beatty, Porter & Copen LLP as to
legality
10
23.1
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
11
23.2
Consent of Huddleston, Bolen LLP (filed
as part of the opinion at Exhibit 5)
24
Power of attorney is contained
elsewhere in Part II of this
Registration Statement
9