Warren Scott HONORED PUBLIC SERVANT — David B. Cross, right, who served as Brooke County prosecuting attorney for 33 years, addressed 1st Judicial Circuit Court Judge Joseph Barki and many others attending a ceremony Friday dedicating the Brooke County Prosecutor’s Office in his name.

WELLSBURG — State Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Wellsburg, said when he considered pursuing a career in law, he looked to his uncle, former Brooke County prosecuting attorney David B. Cross, as an example.

“I thought, if I could be half as good as he is and have half the respect he has, I’d be doing OK,” said Weld, who was among many on hand for the dedication Friday of the Brooke County Prosecutor’s Office in Cross’ name.

It’s an honor that was suggested by 1st Judicial Circuit Court Judge Joseph Barki, who had followed Cross in the county position, and others.

“David did this job, a difficult job, longer than anybody,” said Barki, referring to the 33 years in which Cross held the elected office, a record among county prosecuting attorneys in West Virginia.

Barki credited an internship under Cross for inspiring his own career.

“There are very few people in the legal field, or you’ll meet on the street, who don’t like or respect David B. Cross. This county has truly been blessed by his service,” he said.

Barki noted as county prosecutor, Cross not only presented many criminal cases to the local justice system but also served as legal counsel for the Brooke County Commission and Brooke County Board of Education, providing advice to members of those two boards through the years.

Weld noted Cross was unopposed in eight elections while seeing justice was served for many victims of crime.

Turning to Cross, he said, “The work that you did made a difference in so many lives and to so many people.”

Current Brooke County Prosecutor Allison Cowden, who hosted the event, noted she first encountered Cross as a fellow attorney when the two were handling opposite sides of a divorce case and found him always to be reasonable and fair.

Former Brooke County commissioner Tim Ennis said, following the event, that Cross has an even-handed nature that must have been appreciated by the many crime victims he encountered through the years.

“He’s always had that calming personality. It must have been reassuring to so many people,” Ennis said of Cross, who also established the Hancock-Brooke-Ohio Victims Assistance Program with former Brooke County chief probation officer Jim Lee.

Barki said Cross fulfilled and exceeded the responsibilities of county prosecutor while raising a family.

Following the dedication, Cross said he owes much to the support of his late wife, Terri, who helped him to raise their children — David F. Cross, who has served for many years as assistant Brooke County prosecutor; and Danielle Cross McCracken, who is president of the Oglebay Institute.

Cross said he had taught English at Follansbee High School and West Liberty State College before earning a master’s degree in speech pathology, which led to his running a speech clinic for the Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center.

“I really loved that job, but the economics (of it) weren’t keeping up with inflation,” he said, explaining a need for better pay spurred him to pursue law school.

It was a dream he’d had as a younger man and with Terri’s support, he applied and was admitted to the West Virginia University School of Law.

Following his graduation, he joined a law practice led by Charles Bell and J.P. McMullen and served as assistant prosecutor to Brooke County Prosecutor John Cooper.

Cross later established his own law office but when he successfully ran for county prosecutor, after Cooper stepped down, he was joined again by Bell and McMullen, who served as assistant prosecutors.

“They were two excellent men,” he said.

Cross said through the years, he received “tremendous assistance” from his office staff, which included Terri and Alisa Smith, who was among the many in attendance.

Barki noted Dick Vulgamore, who had served as investigator for the prosecutor’s office and participated in a successful series of undercover drug stings, sent his regrets that illness kept him from the dedication.

Cross said as a prosecuting attorney, ‘You see a lot of sad things.”

But he said what kept him in the position for so many years was “the satisfaction of knowing you were really serving the community and seeing that justice was done.”

Cross told those attending the dedication, “If you have a job that you truly enjoy and take pride in, it’s not like doing work.”