[1] He was a graduate of Kingston High School (Pennsylvania); attended Wilkes College for a time and then joined the U.S. Navy, serving as an electronics technician on the USS McKean.
Upon honorable discharge from the service, he returned home to work in the family business as a licensed independent agent/adjuster.
[2] After nine years on the Kingston City Council, he ran for the Pennsylvania State Legislature and served for two consecutive terms in the 120th district from 1987 to 1991.
Dietterick sued unsuccessfully to remove his name from the state ballot [4] and lost in a landslide to Democrat Phyllis Mundy.
[6] In 1995, he worked for FEMA, as a community relations specialist, traveling the United States and Puerto Rico, helping victims cope with their losses from Hurricane Georges.