In Memoriam, C. Irvin McClelland

In Memoriam

C. IRVIN McCLELLAND 1933 – 2008

We are very saddened by the passing of senior partner and founding member of our firm, C. Irvin McClelland on July 14, 2008. Irv, age 75, was Vice President and Treasurer of the firm for 30 years, a member of the firm's Board of Directors, and our longtime and dear friend for more than 40 years.

An accomplished lawyer, Irv was a senior partner involved in the management of prosecution and processing of applications within the Electrical/Mechanical Practice Group of the firm, and in the general management of administrative affairs within the firm. He was semi-retired and had planned for full retirement later this year.

Irv will always be remembered for his love and passion for a wide variety of interests: horses and the racetrack -- he previously owned a stable with racehorses; sports, particularly football; the military and providing service to our country; listening to oldies music at his favorite piano bar; and discussing his favorite TV shows, 24 and West Wing. He thoroughly enjoyed current events and engaging in friendly debates about politics – always with his open-minded and fair views.

He was a true gentleman, and character, honesty, integrity and honor were so important to him. He cherished his personal relationships, and he cared deeply about the well-being of his family and friends. He very much enjoyed his work and his long career with the firm, and was very proud of the role he played in getting it started and in helping to build the solid administrative structure that enabled us to grow with stability. He was a great and eloquent writer, and a consummate story-teller, yet he also was a thoughtful listener, showing caring and concern to all. He was a joking brother we grew up with, a father we never had, a friend we always turned to.

Prior to joining the firm in 1969, he was a patent examiner in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, following a tour of duty in the U.S. Air Force, where he was a jet instructor pilot with the NATO command in Europe. He later was a patent advisor for the Office of Naval Research.

He was admitted to the Bars of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Supreme Court of Virginia, and the Court of Appeals of Maryland. He was a member of the American Bar Association and the American Intellectual Property Law Association.

He received his J.D. from George Washington University in 1963, and a B.S. in Physics from Virginia Military Institute in 1955.

Irv, of McLean, Va., is survived by his wife Christine, and four children, Paul, Douglas, Ashley, and Morgan. He was born March 4, 1933, in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

We miss him greatly.