Born in Jeffersonville, Indiana, Ingram served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve during World War II, from 1943 to 1946.
He served as a judge of the Municipal Court for the Mountain View Judicial District in Palo Alto, California from 1969 to 1971.
In 1971, Ingram was appointed to the Superior Court bench in Santa Clara County by California Governor Ronald Reagan.
[2] On June 2, 1976, Ingram was nominated by President Gerald Ford to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of California vacated by Judge Alfonso Zirpoli.
Ingram was confirmed by the United States Senate on July 23, 1976, and received his commission the same day.