 His parents were Douglas and Winifred Ross, both natives of England.He graduated from Taft School in 1924, where he captained the track team at led the Glee Club and Yale University in 1928, where he blossomed forth as one of the nation's foremost intercollegiate track performers, as well as soloist with the famous Yale Glee Club, and he was a member of Zeta Psi and Skull and Bones.Additionally, in 1931 he earned a law degree from Columbia Law School., earning the wherewithal by making radio appearances.