His father graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and served in the U.S. army during World War I. After the war he was professor of mathematics at a number of universities before ending his career as Professor of Mathematics at Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, where poor health forced him to retire early.
Kanyang ama ay nagtapos mula sa United States Military Academy sa West Point at nagsilbi sa US hukbo sa panahon ng World War I. Pagkatapos ng digmaan siya ay propesor ng matematika sa isang bilang ng mga unibersidad bago ang pagtatapos ng kanyang karera bilang Propesor ng Matematika sa Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, na kung saan ang mahinang kalusugan sapilitang sa kanya upang lumikom ng maaga.