William Vernon Cone was educated at the University of Iowa, and spent his early career (1922-1928) there and at Columbia University, teaching and researching in neuropathology and surgery. He was also a junior attending surgeon at the Presbyterian Hospital, New York City during this period. In 1928, Dr. Cone moved to Montreal with Dr. Wilder Penfield and became associated with McGill University and the Royal Victoria Hospital. From 1929 until his death, Dr. Cone was actively involved in teaching at McGill University. He established the Montreal Neurological Institute with Dr. Wilder Penfield in 1934 and was Chief of Neurological Service there until his death on May 4, 1959. Dr. Cone was a consulting neurosurgeon at many hospitals and was also involved in many professional societies. During World War II, Dr. Cone was a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. Dr. Cone was an author of many papers on neuropathology, neurosurgery and neurology. He also developed many techniques in the treatment of head injuries, the study of antibiotics, the use of the twist drill in the diagnosis of intracranial lesions, and a number of other areas.