After serving in the United States Naval Reserve in World War II, he graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1948.
Schneider joined CBS in Chicago in 1950 and was working in national advertising sales when the network in 1958 bought WCAU-TV in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
He was also awarded the IRTS (International Radio and Television Society) Gold Medal.
Following high school, he enrolled at the University of Notre Dame to study Naval Science and Tactics where he earned his B.S.
He served as an ensign in the Navy aboard the destroyer USS Hobson during World War II.