Donald W. Banner

Donald W. Banner (February 23, 1924 – January 29, 2006) was a United States Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks.

Early life and career

Banner was born in Chicago and served as a P-47 pilot during World War II. He was shot down over Italy, and held in a German POW camp until April 29, 1945.[1]

After the war, Banner attended Purdue University, graduating with a BSEE in 1948. He earned his Juris Doctor in 1952 from the University of Detroit. He later went on to earn his Master of Patent Law in 1958, and his Doctor of Laws in 1979 from the John Marshall Law School.[2]

Political career

Banner was appointed to be U.S. Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks by both Presidents Nixon and Carter,[3] the only person to be so appointed by presidents of both political parties. He served in that office only during the Carter Administration from 1978 to 1979. After his time as Commissioner of Patents he entered private practice with the firm now known as Banner & Witcoff.[4] He also served as director of the Patent Law Division at John Marshall Lae School.[5]

He died on January 29, 2006 in Tucson, Arizona.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Donald W. Banner: 1924--2006Noted patent attorneyThe Chicago native, named U.S. patent commissioner by President Carter, specialized in intellectual property issues".
  2. ↑ "Donald W. Banner, Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award".
  3. ↑ Carter, Jimmy Earl and National Archives and Records Service. Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Jimmy Carter, 1978, Book 1: January 1 to June 30, 1978. Government Printing Office. p. 292.
  4. ↑ "Donald W. Banner Diversity Scholarship for Law StudentsCommerce Secretary". The John Marshall Law School. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Leading the Way in Intellectual Property Legal EducatioCommerce Secretary". The John Marshall Law School. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Donald Banner, 81. Led Patents and Trademarks Agency.". Washington Post. February 5, 2006. Retrieved 2008-07-10. Donald W. Banner, 81, a lawyer and former U.S. commissioner of patents and trademarks, died January 29 of pancreatic cancer at his home in Tucson, Ariz. A former resident of McLean and the District, he had lived in Tucson since 2001.


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