[1] He had a background in education, and served at different times as Casa Grande's city clerk and postmaster.
[2] He was hired to become principal of the Central School in Casa Grande, Arizona in 1917.
[4][5] In 1919 he resigned as principal of the school, and was appointed the city clerk for Casa Grande.
[5][6] In 1922 he ran unopposed in the primary for one of the two seats to the Arizona House of Representatives in Pinal County.
[8][9] In 1924 he ran unopposed in the Democrat primary for the single seat from Pinal County for the Arizona State Senate, and defeated Republican George Hall in the general election in November.