He attended St. Xavier School in his hometown of Manchester, Iowa, then enrolled at Columbia College.
McCormick joined the United States Army during World War II, and later worked for the United Service Organization in Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, and Texas before returning to Iowa to work for the local furniture business cofounded by his father.
His district was renumbered in each of his three terms, but also included the counties of Buchanan, Clayton, Dubuque, Fayette, and Jones.
Ray's successor as governor, Terry Branstad, named McCormick to a task force on drunk driving, as well as the Iowa Board of Corrections on which he served three terms, totaling twelve years.
After moving to the city of Dubuque, McCormick was a member of a long-range planning commission for two years.