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Chauncey H. Browning

Jurist Chauncey Hoyt Browning (May 15, 1903-June 24, 1971) was a member of the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals for the final 19 years of his life. Browning was born at Chauncey, Logan County, and graduated from Logan High School in 1920. He taught history and government there in 1924–25. He graduated from West Virginia University in 1924 and then from the WVU law school in 1927.

In 1944, he was elected prosecuting attorney in Logan County and reelected in 1948. Browning was appointed state attorney general in February 1952. Five months later, he was appointed to the Supreme Court and later was elected to the unexpired term that ended December 31, 1960. In the election of 1960, he won a full 12-year term to the court. He was chief justice of that court in 1956, 1960, 1965, and 1970, but died of a heart attack still in office. His son, Chauncey H. Browning Jr., (b. 1934), was elected state attorney general in 1968 and served until 1985.

Written by Robert Y. Spence