hiː ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd fɹʌm moʊsˈɛl hˈaɪ skˈuːl ænd fɹʌmðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv sˈʌðɚn mˌɪsɪsˈɪpi ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti wˈʌn, ˈɜːnɪŋ dᵻɡɹˈiːz ɪn ˌɛdʒuːkˈeɪʃən ænd pəlˈɪɾɪkəl sˈaɪəns.
He graduated from Moselle High School and from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1971, earning degrees in education and political science.