Aviation pioneer, Alabama National Guard veteran, Air Mail pilot, and commercial airline pilot. Born in Saginaw, Michigan but was an Alabamian from early childhood until his death in 1966. He began flying as a teenager. He served as flying officer in the 106th Observation Squadron, Alabama National Guard, beginning in 1924. In the late twenties, he was a partner and a pilot for Davis Airline, operating between Birmingham and Atlanta. He flew mail in the southeastern United States for Southern Air Transport Company. In 1930, he begain a thrity-four year career with Eastern Airlines. He served as Chief Pilot for the Eastern Division from 1941 to 1960. In 1960 he was named System Director of Flight Safety, a position he held until his retirement in 1964. He was a leader in the development of center line approach lights and flashing sequence, now a standard part of the instrument lighting system.