Avery was born in Saginaw, Michigan.  He was most remembered as board chairman and president of Montgomery Ward from 1931 to 1956. Avery found himself linked with Henry Ford in a stand against some of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal policies.  In a showdown, the Attorney General forcibly removed Avery from his headquarters office.   When the Supreme Court later ruled against some of the New Deal legislation Avery returned to his post as Ward's president.