Tuten engaged in farming, teaching, bricklaying, and business as a building contractor.

He was active in the government of Brunswick, Georgia, serving as a city commissioner from 1956 to 1962, and then mayor from 1958 and 1962.

Tuten served as chairman of the board of trustees, Brewton–Parker College at Mount Vernon, Georgia.

Tuten was appointed as cochairman of the Coastal Plains Regional Commission in 1967.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress