John graduated from The University of Alabama where he was active in the Student Government Association (SGA), having served as a student senator, as Vice-President, and as President (1986-87). John was the last independent (non-Greek) candidate to be elected and only the seventh in the 96-year history of the SGA. While at the University, John was very involved in Residential Life, served on nine University Standing Committees, was in the Anderson Society, was awarded the William P. Bloom Scholarship, and served two Congressional Internships in Washington, D.C. (Congressman Bill Nichols - 1983 and U. S. Senator Howell Heflin - 1984).

Since graduating from the University, John has served as a National Account Executive and Manager at Randall Publishing Company (1988-90), as the Assistant Director of the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority (1990-93), and as the Director of Business Development for the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama (1993-94). Since December of 1994, he has served as the Director of Community Relations and Community Education for the Tuscaloosa County Board of Education. In his present capacity, John serves as the system’s spokesperson and coordinates the after-school programs in 20 of the system’s schools.

John and his wife Cindy, the principal at Westwood Elementary, live in the Taylorville community of Tuscaloosa County with their two children, Pelham Brooks (20) and Alexandra Grace (17).