He served in the United States Navy during World War II from 1944 to 1946.
Following his military service, he pursued higher education, earning an Artium Baccalaureus degree from Monmouth College in 1949 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School in 1952.
Upon completing his legal education, he began his professional career as home office counsel for the Reserve Life Insurance Company in Dallas, Texas, a position he held from 1952 to 1954.
Subsequently, he entered private legal practice in Dallas, where he remained active from 1954 to 1974.
[1] Porter was nominated by President Richard Nixon on April 22, 1974, to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas vacated by Judge Leo Brewster.