Don Markley has died.
The president and founder of consulting firm D.L. Markley & Associates in Peoria, Ill., was 73. According to associate Jeremy Ruck, Markley had multiple myeloma and passed away late last week.
The company he started with his wife Phyllis in 1964 will continue. “Although Don is no longer with us physically, his spirit, vision and legacy live on in D.L. Markley & Associates, and we will be continuing his life’s work, his passion,” Ruck wrote in an e-mail to Radio World.
Donald L. Markley was graduated from Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., with a bachelor’s of science in electrical engineering and master’s of science in electrical engineering, according to the company Web site. Prior to full-time consulting, he was an associate professor of electrical engineering at the university.
According to an obituary in The Journal Star newspaper, Markley was a member of the Association of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and other organizations, and had mentored a number of engineers throughout his career. He was a registered professional engineer in the state of Illinois and an amateur radio operator, K9WFG. (Read the obituary.)
The firm does work in broadcasting, power distribution, safety and forensic engineering. Its staff at present consists of Phyllis Markley, Office Manager Paulette Hoskins, Staff Engineer Keith Turcot and Ruck, who is senior engineer. “The expectation is that Mrs. Markley will continue handling the business aspect of the firm, while I will oversee the day-to-day engineering operations as I have for the past several years while Don was sick,” Ruck told RW.