Born in Jamestown, North Dakota on December 13, 1886. Graduated from Princeton University in 1908. Hired as a reporter for the New York Sun after graduation. Left the Sun in 1912 to work with Teddy Roosevelt and the Bull Moose campaign. Hired at Calkins and Holden late in 1912, and stayed on until 1918. Met Bruce Barton and Alex Osborn while doing fund raising work for the Salvation Army and other domestic aid programs near the end of World War I. Founded BDO together with Barton and Osborn. Published first book: Making Advertisements and Making Them Pay, in 1921. Published article, "Advertising Works -- But Not Magic" in Nation's Business magazine in 1925. Published article, "It's a Personal Matter" in Liberty magazine in 1925. Published article, "Miss Blotz, Get Mr. Pillsbury on the 'Phone" in System: The Magazine of Business, in 1925. Served as president of the American Association of Advertising Agencies from 1925-1926. Established the first agency radio department at BDO in 1926. Published article, "The Machine That Creates Desire" in Nation's Business magazine in 1928. BDO merged with George Batten's company in 1928 to form BBDO. Published second book: This Advertising Business, in 1928. Served as vice president and general manager of BBDO from 1928 - 1936. Wrote a chapter in James Alden's book, Careers in Advertising, entitled, "The Management of an Advertising Agency" in 1932. Traveled to Russia, Austria, and Germany in 1934, and later wrote his third book, Red Thunder. Published article, "The Future of Radio Advertising in the United States" in the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, in 1935. Received the first Advertising Award for radio advertising in 1936. Served as president of BBDO from 1936 - 1939. Left BBDO in 1939 to form new agency: Roy S. Durstine. Died in New York on November 28, 1962 at the age of 75.