Born in Bolivar, Tennessee, Horton served in the United States Marine Corps from 1946 to 1947, and again from 1951 to 1953.

He was a judge of the Shelby County Criminal Court in Tennessee from 1969 to 1970, and was then president of LeMoyne–Owen College from 1970 to 1974, also appearing as a commentator on WREC-TV (CBS) from 1972 to 1974.

He was the director of Community Health Services, Mid-South Medical Center Council in Memphis from 1974 to 1976.

He then served as a United States Bankruptcy Judge in the Western District of Tennessee from 1976 to 1980.

Horton served in that capacity until his death of respiratory failure on February 22, 2006, in Memphis.