Background
Lincoln, Howard was born on February 14, 1940 in Oakland, California, United States.
professional manufacturing executive
Lincoln, Howard was born on February 14, 1940 in Oakland, California, United States.
Bachelor in Political Science, University California, Berkeley, 1962. Juris Doctor, University California School Law, 1965.
Born in Oakland, California, Lincoln was an active Boy Scout. As a thirteen-year-old boy, he posed for the famous Norman Rockwell painting The Scoutmaster, which was published in a calendar in 1956. In the painting, young Lincoln is on the immediate right of the campfire.
Lincoln matriculated in 1957 at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his Bachelor in political science in 1962 and his law degree from Berkeley Law in 1965.
From 1966 to 1970, he served as a Naval lieutenant within the Judge Advocate General"s Corps. He then worked in private practice as an attorney in Seattle, Washington.
There he did legal work in 1981 for Nintendo, culminating in the legal case Universal City Studios, Incorporated. v. Nintendo Company, Limited., in which Universal City Studios had sued Nintendo claiming that the video game Donkey Kong infringed upon Universal City Studio"s rights to King Kong.
Lincoln hired John Kirby to represent Nintendo in the courtroom.
Lincoln joined Nintendo in 1983, as its Senior Vice President and General Counsel. In 1994, he was appointed its chairman. Lincoln"s tenure as Chief Executive Officer of the Seattle Mariners has seen both success and controversy.
Lincoln was considered instrumental, along with former Senator Slade Gorton, in preserving the team"s location in Seattle and negotiating with the city for a new stadium, Safeco Field.
His stewardship has seen the team"s first post-season appearances, in 1995, 1997, 2000, and 2001, as well as the aggressive expansion of the Mariners into the Japanese market, most noticeably through the acquisition of Japanese superstar Ichiro Suzuki. However, Lincoln is also held responsible by many for the team"s stagnation and decline following 2001.
His inability to retain successful field managers and general managers like Lou Piniella and Pat Gillick, carte-blanche attitude towards superstar players, contentious relationship with local media, and pattern of questionable hiring decisions have led to increasing calls within the fanbase for Lincoln to assume a less-active administrative role. He has served as campaign chair for United Way of King County and the Chief Seattle Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
He is also a trustee of Western Washington University.
Instrumental in creating Nintendo's charitable contributions program, including Starlight Foundation. Major initiator in Club Mario/after-school program with Bellevue, Washington Boys & Girls Club. Trustee Seattle Children's Hospital Foundation, Western Washington University.
Chairman, Washington Roundtable. Hi-tech chairman United Way of King County, Washington, 1999, campaign chair, 2003-2004. Board directors Boalt Hall Alumni Association, University California, Berkeley, ArtsFund, Bellevue Boys & Girls Club, The Baseball Club of Seattle, LP, Seattle Mariners, Pacific Science Center, Corporation Council for the Arts, chief Seattle council Boys Scouts American, others.
Supports Mariners Care Foundation.
Married Grace; c. Brad.