Steve was born and raised in Greenville. He graduated from Greenville High School, attended East Texas State University and graduated from Texas Tech University with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Steve graduated from the Texas Tech University School of Law, and was named to the National Order of Barristers. He returned to Greenville and started his law practice by associating with G. C. Harris. Steve also served as Assistant District Attorney for Hunt County. Steve and his law partner, Dan Perkins, have been in practice together for over 30 years. During that time, Steve has served as an Adjunct Professor of Family Law at East Texas State University [Texas A&M University - Commerce], served on the State Bar of Texas Grievance Committee [serving as Chairman from 2001-2004] and served as President of the Court Appointed Special Advocates [CASA] of Rockwall County. In 1989, Steve became Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and his certification has been renewed every five years by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. In 1999, Steve was named as a Fellow in the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys. In addition to his Family Law litigation practice, Steve has been a Mediator since 1994, and is currently designated as a TMCA Credentialed Distinguished Mediator by the Texas Mediator Credentialing Association. In 2010, Steve completed the Family Law Arbitration training from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Steve also serves as an Independent Hearing Examiner for the Texas Education Association. Steve and his wife, Sarah, have two sons, Brad and Clay. Brad is a middle school teacher in McKinney and Clay is a law student at Texas Tech University School of Law.