Country of origin:	Planet earth (originally USA)
Books by this author:	Origins of Gemology in Pictures - Gems, Precious Stones and Jewelry

Born on March 2, 1949 in Portland, Oregon I spent the first 20 years of my life in Vancouver, Washington; just across the Columbia River from Portland. I worked for J. & S.S. DeYoung's in Boston as their gemologist and buyer from 1974 – 1980.

John Merion, the President of Sotheby’s, NYC called me at DeYoung’s in February 1980 and offered me a directorship over all jewelry sales in the western U.S.A., based in Los Angeles.

I have authored a number of articles on gemology that have appeared in the Gems and Gemology, Lapidary Journal, Jeweler’s Circular Keystone, Modern Jeweler among other publications. I started my own business in San Francisco, Sept 6, 1981, Gill and Shortell, Ltd., San Francisco, CA, and retired Sept. 6, 1988.

Bio after his 'Gill's Index' which can be downloaded here.