Harold F. Baker, 87; Leading Antitrust Lawyer

Harold F. "Hal" Baker, 87, a retired partner in the law firm of Howrey Simon Baker and Murchison, died Nov. 11 at Washington Hospital Center of complications following heart surgery. He was a Boyds resident.

Mr. Baker was a founding partner of the firm now known as Howrey, a leading antitrust litigator. Under his direction as managing partner, the firm grew to 150 lawyers in 1986, the year he retired. In 1983, The Washington Post noted that the firm, then known as Howrey & Simon, was "famed for its street-brawling approach to antitrust fights."

A gifted trial lawyer, Mr. Baker was involved in a number of significant antitrust cases, including a $600 million suit Litton Systems filed against AT&T in the early 1980s. Litton Systems prevailed. Other clients included Anheuser-Busch, International Paper and MeadWestvaco.

Mr. Baker was born in Moriah, N.Y. His undergraduate degree was from Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky.

During World War II, he served in the Army Signal Corps. His unit, based on the island of Saipan, was responsible for relaying message and radio communications from Gen. Douglas MacArthur's headquarters back to Hawaii.

After the war, Mr. Baker moved to the District. He graduated at the top of his class from George Washington University Law School in 1948.

In 1956, he joined Jack Howrey, Bill Simon and Dave Murchison to establish the firm that bore their names. His ideas about law-firm branding led him to shorten the firm's name, even though doing so meant he was removing his name from the marquee. He was with Howrey until his retirement.

He moved to Boyds in the mid-1980s and immediately became involved with land-use issues as a representative of the farming community and Montgomery County's Agriculture Reserve. A defender of farming and the preservation of open space, he was a board member and president of the county's Agricultural Advisory Board.

In addition to his agricultural pursuits at Susanna Farm, he developed one of the region's finest collections of dwarf conifers. He sought out unusual evergreen trees from across the country and shared his passion with visitors and friends.

He enjoyed antiques and for many years owned the Olney Antique Mart, where he collected American art pottery.

He was a member of Boyds Presbyterian Church and a member and president of the Boyds Civic Association and the Upper Montgomery Civic Association.

A son, Randall Baker, died in 1981.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Cozy Baker of Bethesda; two children, Brant Baker and Barbi Richardson, both of Boyds; and four grandchildren.