2006
Harrison Latham Hinson, 83, a retired patent examiner in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, died of a heart attack June 3 at
Inova Fairfax Hospital. A resident of Greenspring Village Retirement Community in Springfield, he had lived in McLean for many
years.
Mr. Hinson, known as Harry, was born in the District and graduated from McKinley High School in 1941. He attended George
Washington University and held a variety of jobs, including working as a Western Union singing telegram messenger and
insurance salesman.
During World War II, he worked as a machinist at the Washington Navy Yard. Later, working as a primary patent examiner for the
patent and trademark office, he had signatory authority to issue patents. He retired from government service in 1980.
A tools and hardware enthusiast with a penchant for hands-on repair and problem solving, he worked for about 15 years for
Gardner Realty in McLean, taking care of maintenance on the company's rental housing.
He also served as the first president of the McLean Civitan Club, which later merged with the Arlington Civitan Club. With more
than 30 years of record attendance, he helped establish the club's ongoing yard sale in Arlington. He was a mainstay of the
sale, held on a street near Washington-Lee High School, for more than 20 years. Proceeds go to handicapped children and
other Civitan charitable endeavors.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Josephine Dowell Hinson of Springfield; and a daughter, Pattie Dowell Hinson Conner of
New Market.