Eugene "Gene" Lawrence Markey, Jr. (Dec. 11, 1895 - May 1, 1980) was an American author, producer, screenwriter, and highly decorated naval officer.
(27 February 1934) Daughter, with Bennett, Melinda born
Married the widow who owned Calumet Farm, the most famous Kentucky horse racing stable which made him the proprietor and a very happy man at the time of his death as he probably loved race horses more than women and from the list of his wives he apparently loved women a great deal.
He advanced to the rank of Commodore in the US Navy during World War II. He was promoted to Rear Admiral after the war.
Won the Bronze Star for leading a reconaissance mission in the Solomon Islands - 1942. Also won the Legion of Merit, the Unit Comendation Medal, the Legion of Honor (France), and the Star of Solidarity (Italy).
Was the model for Burgess Meredith's character in the 1965 John Wayne (I) film, In Harm's Way.
Served as Assistant Intelligence Officer on the Staff of Fleet Admiral William F. "Bull" Halsey, Third Fleet, U.S. Navy at Guadalcanal.
Served as an infantry Lieutenant in the U.S. Army during World War I (1917-18). Saw action at the Battle of Bellau Wood and the Second Battle of the Marne.
Graduated from Dartmouth College, B.A. - 1918.
He was also a very prolific author. Among his works were: Women, Women Everywhere, His Majesty's Pajamas, That Far Paradise, and Kentucky Pride.
Was good friends with actors Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and John Wayne (I).
Markey was intensely proud of the fact that he was a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. So proud, in fact, that ANY mail that wasn't addressed to Admiral Markey (including bills) was tossed into the trash.
Was good friends with songwriter, Irving Berlin (I), who sent flowers to his funeral when he died in 1980.
His 1946 wedding to Myrna Loy was a full dress military affair at San Pedro Naval Station near Los Angeles, California. Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey was his best man and noted film director, John Huston (I), gave the bride away.
Was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel (a ceremonial rank) on July 31, 1958 by Governor 'Albert 'Happy Chandler, who had previously served as Commissioner of Baseball.
While he lived in Kentucky, he purchased an 18th Century log cabin and had it moved to the Calumet Farm property. He used the cabin as a work room for his writing.
As a tribute to his military service, he had some Bourbon distilled that he labeled, "Old Commodore". His other private reserve brand was labeled, "Old Calumet Cabin" after the aforementioned cabin he used as his writing room.
