Donald W. Banner

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

Donald Banner was born in Chicago in 1924, he 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 Donald 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]

Donald Banner was appointed to be U.S. Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks by both Presidents Nixon and Carter, 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 Banner & Witcoff.

He died on January 29, 2006.^[3]

References

1. ^ "Donald W. Banner: 1924--2006Noted patent attorneyThe Chicago native, named U.S. patent commissioner by President Carter, specialized in intellectual property issues". http://sip-trunking.tmcnet.com/news/2006/02/11/1362837.htm. 
2. ^ "Donald W. Banner, Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award". http://cobweb.ecn.purdue.edu/ECN/DEA/1997/Donald_W_Banner.whtml. 
3. ^ "Donald Banner, 81. Led Patents and Trademarks Agency.". Washington Post. February 5, 2006. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/04/AR2006020401139.html. 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." 

Persondata
Name	Banner, Donald
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	February 23, 1924
Place of birth
Date of death	January 29, 2006
Place of death