He received both his Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees from Milligan College and pursued his Ph.D. at the University of Virginia. He met and married his wife, Clara Louise Lucas, while at Milligan.
The individual's educational background included earning both undergraduate and graduate degrees in arts from Milligan College, after which he continued his academic pursuits with a Ph.D. at the University of Virginia. His personal life was also marked by his marriage to Clara Louise Lucas during this time.