An heir to the Fiesta tableware fortune has left $9 million to The Nature Conservancy.

The money from the estate of Robert Wells will be used to support conservation efforts around the world.

The conservancy's state director, Rodney Bartgis, says 20 percent will be spent in West Virginia.

The Arlington, Virginia-based conservancy announced the gift Wednesday.

Wells, a resident of Newell, died in July 2007 at the age of 80. He had spent most of his life managing The Homer Laughlin China Co. in Newell, a business his family founded in 1897.

His attorney and friend, Stuart N. "Buzz" Hutchison III, says Wells chose the conservancy because of its global reach and proven record of accomplishments.