[1][2] Cook graduated from the University of Maryland in 1970 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration, with a concentration in economics.

After graduation, he was offered an analyst position with Potomac Electric Power Company, where he worked for 34 years.

Cook was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 6 in 2010, defeating incumbent Stan White by 21 votes after a recount.

During his tenure in the North Carolina General Assembly, he served as the co-chairman of the following committees: Senate's Appropriations on Natural and Economic Resources Committee, Senate's Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resource, and the Agriculture and Forestry Awareness Study Commission.

Additionally, he was a member on the following committees: Education/Higher Education, Finance, Judiciary II, Commerce, Program Evaluation, Joint Legislative Oversight on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, Joint Legislative Oversight on Education, Regulatory and Rate Issues in Insurance and Joint Legislative Workforce Development System Reform Oversight.