Born in Charleston when Calvin Coolidge was president, he served in the Army during World War II, graduated from West Virginia University College of Law in 1950, was named a federal bankruptcy referee in 1958, and appointed a U.S. District Court judge by President Gerald Ford in 1976.

On Monday, Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr., the publicity-shy son of a flamboyant former Charleston mayor, will celebrate his 100th birthday during his 67th year with the federal judiciary — a term unequaled by any active federal judge.

On Tuesday, Copenhaver will return to work as usual as a senior status U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of West Virginia. The court calendar shows that he has two hearings scheduled before him in early October. Copenhaver opted to become a senior status judge in 20

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