JOHN COSTINE

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — John O. Costine, Ohio’s longest continuously practicing attorney, celebrated his 100th birthday this month.

Born on Oct. 16, 1924, Costine studied at Bethany College before joining the U.S. Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater.

Costine graduated from Ohio Northern University in 1950 with a law degree then began working with his father John E. Costine, founder of the Costine Law Firm in St. Clairsville, in 1952. Around the same time, he married his beloved Phyllis, who died in 2021. Together, they raised three children — two sons and a daughter.

Just two years after he began working at the family firm, Costine’s father died. According to the Costine Law Firm’s website, after the death of his father, he continued the practice while focusing his efforts in the areas of probate, real estate and tax law.

Born and raised in St. Clairsville, Costine became a fixture in the community. His son, Judge Eric Costine, said people in the city have come to expect to see his father walking to the Belmont County Courthouse with a fedora on his head and papers in his hands.

“It’s just part of his routine that he’s done for 70-plus years,” Judge Costine said. “He’s just kind of an icon in St. Clairsville.”

He added that his father is a classy guy, noting that he’s never seen his dad lose his temper and that his father has always been able to solve problems without getting flustered or upset.

“I’ve always told people that if I can have half of the respect that he’s been able to garner from people throughout the years, then I think I’ll be doing great,” the judge said.

The elder Costine has been practicing law for more than 70 years. Although doesn’t consider himself to be actively practicing law anymore, he continues to work out of the firm’s office daily and has continued to keep an active license with the U.S. Supreme Court.

“He really doesn’t say that he’s actively practicing law, so that number has stopped in his mind. But he’s still in the office every day,” Eric said.

With John’s sons Eric and Mark following in their father’s footsteps, the Costine family already has 104 years of providing legal services to the St. Clairsville community and plans to continue to provide those services for the foreseeable future.

Mark joined the Costinine Law Firm in 1980 and helped expand the operation by including criminal and civil trial work, an area of expertise that was not growing in Belmont County during the years when John E. and John O. Costine entered the field. Mark left the firm in 1998 to assume the position of Belmont County Common Pleas Court Judge-Probate Division. In 1985 Eric joined the firm, becoming the third practicing attorney in the office.

Eric added that he and Mark both attended Ohio Northern University just like their father and grandfather, making them the third generation of Costines to study at the university.

Costine celebrated his 100th birthday surrounded by his family and friends at his Costine Law Firm’s office as well as at a second gathering to celebrate him with the St. Clairsville Rotary Club. Both Eric and Mark gave speeches at the Rotary Club event. Eric noted that due to his father’s hearing loss, the speeches were recorded to be played back for him at a louder volume.

“He’s been overly embarrassed about all of the attention that he’s been getting. He likes it, but he doesn’t like it. He doesn’t really like being the center of attention because when he is, he knows he has to do something,” Eric quipped.