Selfless service, sans spotlight

The world is full -- too full, really -- of people who scramble to trumpet their every accomplishment, large or small. Humility, it seems, is being forgotten.

But it will always be remembered when people think of William P. Copenhaver.

Harry Truman said, "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." Few words could better describe Copenhaver's legacy to the Augusta area. In his decades of service on behalf of many community groups, at no point did he seek any special recognition. He truly embraced the duty of a citizen to give back to his community.

In business circles Copenhaver was best known as the chairman, president and CEO of Columbia Chemicals in Augusta, which later became part of PCS Nitrogen. From his arrival in Augusta in 1971 to his retirement in 1990, his reputation for sound leadership and integrity was well-earned.

But where his local influence was felt most greatly was in his philanthropic work. Pick a committee that has worked for Augusta's betterment, and Copenhaver likely served on it. He had sat on the boards for the Community Foundation of the CSRA, the United Way, the Boy Scouts, the Augusta State University Foundation, the Creel Foundation, the Medical College of Georgia, the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation, the National Science Center, the Greater Augusta Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Clubs International and First Tee of Augusta.

And through all that -- and on top of his devoted decades of stewardship to St. John United Methodist Church -- he was a loving husband and father.

And it shouldn't be any surprise that someone so dedicated to serving others also was a military veteran. As a B-17 bomber pilot, he flew 17 missions over Europe for the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II.

Sadly, we won't see Bill Copenhaver again in this life. We can only hope to meet others like him.