Born on November 22, 1903, in Pueblo, Colorado, Chilson received a Bachelor of Laws in 1927 from the University of Colorado Law School.

He was an Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior from 1956 to 1957.

He was Undersecretary of the United States Department of the Interior from 1957 to 1958.

[2] Chilson was nominated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on February 19, 1960, to a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Colorado vacated by Judge William Lee Knous.

He was a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 1970 to 1973.