Chauncey Hoyt Browning Jr. (November 21, 1934 – January 1, 2010) was an American

attorney Attorney may refer to: * Lawyer ** Attorney at law, in some jurisdictions * Attorney, one who has power of attorney * ''The Attorney'', a 2013 South Korean film See also * Attorney general, the principal legal officer of (or advisor to) a gove ...

and politician. A Democrat from West Virginia, he was elected four times as West Virginia Attorney General, serving from 1969 to 1985. Browning was born in

Charleston Charleston most commonly refers to: * Charleston, South Carolina * Charleston, West Virginia, the state capital * Charleston (dance) Charleston may also refer to: Places Australia * Charleston, South Australia Canada * Charleston, Newfoundlan ...

in 1934, the son of

Chauncey Browning Sr. Chauncey Hoyt Browning Sr. (May 15, 1903 – June 24, 1971) was Attorney General of West Virginia in 1952, and a justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia from August 18, 1952 until his death on June 24, 1971. Browning was a Democr ...

and Evelyn Mahone Browning. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the West Virginia University in 1956. He attended the West Virginia University College of Law, serving as the editor-in-chief of '' West Virginia Law Review'', receiving his

law degree A law degree is an academic degree conferred for studies in law. Such degrees are generally preparation for legal careers. But while their curricula may be reviewed by legal authority, they do not confer a license themselves. A legal license is gra ...

in 1958. Following graduation, Browning served as a law clerk to Judge Benjamin Franklin Moore of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. He engaged in the practice of law in Charleston and subsequently served as the state Commissioner of Public Institutions. Browning was elected Attorney General in 1968 and re-elected in 1972, 1976 and 1980. He was the first Attorney General to serve four terms in West Virginia's history. He is also the only West Virginia Attorney General to have served as president of the

National Association of Attorneys General The National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of state and territory attorneys general in the United States. NAAG is governed by member attorneys general, with a president and executive committee se ...

. During his tenure, Browning established the Consumer Protection Division and reviewed and revised environmental and natural resources laws, rules and regulations. Also during his tenure, West Virginia sued the Pittston Coal Company for $100 million in damages for the February 26, 1972 Buffalo Creek Flood. Governor Arch A. Moore Jr. later settled the suit for $1 million. Browning did not seek re-election in 1984, but rather ran for governor and lost a hotly contested three-way primary and left office in January 1985. He returned to his private practice and retired in 2008. Browning died on January 1, 2010, at Charleston Area Medical Center at 75.

External links

Obituary
from ''The Logan Banner'' 1934 births 2010 deaths West Virginia Democrats West Virginia Attorneys General West Virginia University alumni {{WestVirginia-politician-stub