John received both B.B.A. and L.L.B. degrees from the University of Oklahoma. He was associated with the Oklahoma City law firm Dykeman, Wiliamson and Williamson while serving as general counsel of Coates Field Service, Inc. John was elected President of the company in 1971, and was Chief Operating Officer until 2006 and currently serves as counsel to the Board of Directors and officers of the company. John is a member of Phi Alpha Delta Law fraternity and Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity. He has been admitted to practice before the Interstate Commerce Commission and is a member of the Oklahoma Bar Association. John was the first consultant member of the International Right of Way Association to be selected to serve as Chair of the International Pipeline Committee. He was a founder of the Pipeline Systems Short Course in Durango, Colorado in recognition of dedicated service in the pursuit of education and received the International Right of Way Associations’ Mark Green Scholarship Award for the outstanding contribution to Right of Way Magazine. John has specialized legal education from the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City University and the Oklahoma Bar Association in environmental, employment and real estate law.