Putman was born in 1932 in Cincinnati and attended Hughes High School in that city.

He played football and competed in the shot put and discus while in high school.

[3][7] at 6 feet, 6 inches and 308 pounds, he was reportedly the biggest man in professional football in 1957.

[8] He was the head football coach at Moon Valley High School in Phoenix for 25 years from 1965 to 1989.

In 1997, he was inducted into the National High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame.