Former state Sen. William Z. Scott today was elected chairman of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. He succeeds Abraham D. Cohn, who has headed the LCB since 1961.

Scott, an attorney who is formerly of Lansford, was appointed to the board on Dec. 20, 1966, by Gov. William W. Scranton and then reappointed in January by Gov. Raymond P. Shafer.

The new chairman is a veteran of 20 years in the General Assembly, having served eight years in the state House of Representatives and 12 years in the Senate.

In World War II, as a captain in Merrill’s Marauders in Burma, he was awarded the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation and Combat Infantryman’s Badge.