As a young man, Lockwood served in the Pacific Theater in World War II, aboard a Landing Ship Tank.

[1][2][3] Lockwood was born in Ottawa, Illinois, and was a descendant of Franz Karl Achard on his mother's side.

Lockwood worked as a campaign manager for Detroit mayor Albert Cobo and Congressman R. James Harvey.

With F.J. Coomes in 1971, he co-founded Public Affairs Associates, the state's first multi-client bipartisan lobbying firm.

Lockwood was later appointed chief lobbyist and deputy director of the Michigan Department of Commerce under Governor William Milliken.