[2] During World War II he served as lieutenant colonel in the United States Army Air Forces.

In December 1951, Governor Peterson appointed Fred Andrew Seaton to the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Kenneth S. Wherry.

As Federal Civil Defense Administrator, Peterson is reputed to have speculated about the possibility of creating a cobalt doomsday bomb.

Peterson died October 17, 1983, in Fremont, Nebraska, reportedly of respiratory failure following a struggle with Alzheimer's disease.

[4] The Peterson Fine Arts building at his alma mater, Wayne State College, was named in his honor.