[1] A native of Clarke County,[2] he graduated from Marion Military Institute, and the University of Alabama.

During World War II he served in the United States Army Air Forces in the China-Burma-India and Pacific Theaters.

He served on the Interim Committee, on Finance and Taxation, the Fiscal Advisory Committee to the Governor, the Legislative Council, as vice-chairman of the Legislative Committee on Public Accounts, as co-chairman Alabama Constitutional Commission, the Coosa Valley, Tombigbee Valley and Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway Development Authorities, the Alabama Historical Commission, and the Study Commission on Alabama's Judicial System.

He was married to the former Betty McCrary and is the father of two sons, Joseph, III, and Gaines C. McCorquodale, and the grandfather of four.

State House, 92nd district Democratic primaries for Governor, 1982 Alabama gubernatorial election, 1982 Brief profile and electoral results