[1][2] He served in the United States Navy during World War II.

[3] He became after in Republican politics after graduating from the University of Richmond and establishing his law firm in Jonesville.

[4] When he was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates, he was just one of five Republicans in the legislature at the time.

[5] In 1961, he was the Republican candidate for governor, where he lost to Albertis Harrison.

The Republican ticket consisted of Pearson for governor, Hazel K. Barger for lieutenant governor, and Leon Owens for attorney general.