John A. McKinney

John Adams McKinney, a native of Huntsville, Texas passed away peacefully at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado from a long courageous battle from Parkinson’s disease. By his side was his beloved wife Cleo Turner McKinney. They would have celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on August 31st.

John received a Congressional appointment to the United States Naval Academy and graduated in 1945. He served two years in naval service as an Ensign and resigned in 1947 to attend Georgetown University. He graduated from Georgetown University in 1951 with a doctoral of law (JD) degree. Two weeks after graduation he joined the Johns-Manville Corporation as a Patent Attorney and was named Chief Patent Attorney in 1957. He became Vice President of legal services in 1971, President in 1976, CEO in 1977 and Chairman and CEO in 1979. John retired in 1986. John had an outstanding 35 year career with Johns-Manville Corporation and was well known throughout the patent law field. John was loved and highly respected by all who knew him. He was known for his gentleness and integrity was always the perfect gentleman.

During his lifetime, he served in many civic professional organizations, including the American Bar Association, the American Patent Association, and the License Executive Society. He also served as a member on the Federal Reserve Board in Kansas City. John and Cleo traveled all over the world together and he was an exceptional fly fisherman and golfer. He loved his family and his three little dogs, Missy, Bubba and Coco.

John is survived by his loving wife Cleo, two sons: John Adams McKinney Jr. and Todd Turner McKinney; four grandsons: John Adams McKinney III, Thomas A. McKinney, David McKinney and Michael McKinney; and two great-granddaughters: Margo and Madelyn McKinney.

He was preceded in death by his only darling daughter Cleo Kathleen McKinney, his parents, one brother and one sister.

At John’s request a memorial service will be at a later date at the United States Naval Academy where he first met Cleo and where they later married on August 31, 1946.

In lieu of flowers, you can make a donation in John’s memory to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018 or the Pikes Peak Hospice, 825 E. Pikes Peak, Suite 600, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-3631.

John, I love you always, your Cleo.

Arrangements under the direction of Swan-Law Funeral Directors, Colorado Springs, CO.