Born in Springfield, Missouri. Writer and film editor whose credits began in the silent era from 1917, including 12 of John Ford's early films (1917-1919) at Universal, and continued until 1927. He started editing in 1927, and his notable credits include AS YOU DESIRE ME (1932), THE INFORMER and THE THREE MUSKETEERS (both 1935), THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS (1936), THE TOAST OF NEW YORK (1937), BRINGING UP BABY (1938), LOVE AFFAIR (1939), ABE LINCOLN IN ILLINOIS (1940), FATHER TAKES A WIFE (1941), FOUR JACKS AND A JILL (1942), SONG OF RUSSIA and THE MOON AND SIXPENCE (supervising editor) (both 1943), BLONDE FEVER (1944) and his last film THE HIDDEN EYE (1945).    Nominated for Film Editing 1935: THE INFORMER 1 nomination