He attended Washington and Lee University before entering the United States Army in World War I where he served as a corporal.

There he championed opposition to the foreign and domestic policies of the administration of Harry S. Truman and was a stalwart supporter of civil rights.

In both races, his support of the national Republican party's civil rights policies were major issues.

In his re-election bid in another racially charged election (Byrd held the seat until his death in 2010, becoming the first U.S. senator to serve uninterrupted for more than 50 years).

Revercomb was the last Republican to represent West Virginia in the Senate (his 1956–1959 term) until the inauguration of Shelley Moore Capito in 2015.