McCuish was born in Leadville, Colorado, and attended Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri, before graduating from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, in 1925.

He became owner and editor of the Hillsboro Star and returned to Newton, Kansas, and owned and edited the Harvey County News from 1930 to 1958.

On December 31, 1956, William Smith, chief justice of the Kansas Supreme Court resigned so that a Republican governor might appoint his successor.

Hall then resigned on January 3, 1957, making McCuish governor of Kansas for the 11 days remaining before Docking's inauguration.

The move spurred the Kansas Legislature to pass, with 70 percent of the vote, an amendment to the state constitution requiring justices to be chosen with a merit system.