Howard Thomas Markey

Howard Thomas Markey (November 10, 1920 – May 3, 2006) was an American jurist who served as the first Chief United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He is often credited with establishing that court's renown and competence in intellectual property law. Early life, military and legal career Markey was born in Chicago, Illinois to Thomas Joseph and Vera Marie (Dryden) Markey. He served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II as a test pilot, flying P-38s and P-59 jets in extreme cold-weather. He left the army in 1946 as a major, and became a lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve. Markey subsequently earned his undergraduate degree and a Bachelor of Laws in an accelerated one-year program at Loyola University Chicago School of Law in 1949, and a Master of Laws in patent law in 1950 from John Marshall Law School in Chicago. He returned to active military service in the Korean War, in which he served as a planner of the Korean Airlift. Markey returned to Chicago following the war, specializing his private legal practice in patent law and other areas of intellectual property. He remained in the Air Force Reserve, then transferred to the Air National Guard, serving as commander of the Illinois Air National Guard, then returning to the Air Force Reserve as deputy commander of the Air Force Reserve's portion of Tactical Air Command. Markey retired from the Air Force Reserve in 1976 as a major general, having received the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was a lecturer at Loyola University Chicago School of Law from 1971 to 1972.