Ferguson graduated from the Florida A&M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in 1960.

He attained the rank of second lieutenant, serving as a paratrooper and infantry units at Fort Benning in 1961.

Ferguson was discharged from active duty in 1964 but remained in the Army Reserve as a captain from 1964 to 1968.

Ferguson served as associate editor of The Barrister, the Howard University School of Law newspaper.

He was in private practice in Miami from 1970 to 1973, and co-founded the firm of McCrary, Ferguson and Lee in 1971.