He was born in Jacksonville, North Carolina, on April 30, 1950, to William R. and Minne (née Hurst) Grady.

Robert was elected to the Jacksonville City Council in 1981, serving three terms, including two as Mayor Pro Tem.

While serving in the House he specialized in Education and the Judiciary, serving on the appropriations committee for Crime Control and Public Safety, which oversees the judiciary, clerks of court offices, prisons, and state law enforcement (the highway patrol, alcohol law enforcement, the SBI and prisons).

As a result of his efforts Coastal Carolina Community College and UNC-Wilmington established one of the first programs that allows students to receive a 4-year degree from UNC-W – without ever leaving Onslow County.

Both programs were praised as examples of reducing costs, providing more convenient services and saving taxpayers money.