[3][4] His father was a shipyard worker who became the owner of a salvage company and his mother was a Canadian immigrant who was active in the Democratic Party.

[3] He studied commercial art at the Cornish School and was a skilled illustrator and cartoonist, but when the United States entered World War II in 1941, he joined the Coast Guard.

Throughout his time in the legislature, he supported organized labor and environmental issues, helping to create the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle in 1958 and the Washington State Department of Ecology.

[4][5] In 1956, Greive was chosen by the Democratic caucus to replace Albert D. Rosellini as the Senate majority leader, a position that he would hold for the next 12 years.

[3][4] He subsequently alleged that Mardesich had accepted a $20,000 bribe and although his fellow legislator was ultimately acquitted, he had to resign his position as majority leader.

The Senate Ethics Committee did not find a violation of any rules of conduct but in the 1974 election, Republican Nancy Buffington beat Greive by 542 votes.

[3] Greive ran for a position on the King County Council for the 8th district in 1975, challenging Democratic incumbent Ed Heavey.

[3][6] He was focused on his district, working with Ron Sims to fill potholes, create bus stops and obtain funding for the West Seattle Bridge.