After graduating from Kyger Creek High School, Cheshire, Ohio he earned his B.A.

Cremeans, the self-made millionaire owner of a concrete company in Gallipolis, was elected in the Republican landslide in 1994, narrowly defeating one-term incumbent Ted Strickland in Ohio's sixth congressional district.

Strickland won by a slim majority thanks to strong Democratic turnout in southeastern Ohio, particularly in Athens County.

In 1998, Cremeans sought to retake his seat from Strickland, but he was defeated in a three-way Republican primary by Lieutenant Governor Nancy Hollister.

In March 2000, he challenged GOP incumbent Senator Mike DeWine in a three way primary, finishing in third place with 8% of the vote.