Moved to Tupelo from Memphis in late fall of 1954 after his mother remarried. Graduated from Tupelo High School in 1965.

Attended Washington and Lee University his freshman year and pledged Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Transfered to University of Mississippi the following year. Enrolled in the advanced Army ROTC program from which he received his commission—Armor Branch—on 15 July 1969. Received his B.A. degree in the summer of 1969 with a major in Anthropology and minors in Sociology and Military Science.

In October of 1969 began his active duty by reporting to Fort Knox, Kentucky for Officer Basic Training at the Armor School. After completing the training in January of 1970 was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas were he was a tank platoon leader with the 2/81st Armor (Red Lions) of the First Armored Division (Old Ironsides).

In May of 1970 he voluntered for duty in Vietnam and was sent to the Jungle Operations Training Center in Panama in July of that year for two weeks of training after which he received the certificate of "Jungle Expert".

Arrived Vietnam in August and was assigned to the 25th Infantry Division stationed at Cu Chi. Was assigned as an infantry platoon leader with C Company, 1/5th Infantry, then stationed at Xuan Loc in Long Khanh Province. Served three months in the field and received the Bronze Star with "V" device for valor under fire. Reassigned to Alpha Company as the Executive Officer.

After receiving his discharge in August of 1971 he obtained a insurance agent license and worked in the Tupelo Insurance Agency that was owned by his mother.

Finding insurance sales not suitable for a life time career in August of 1973 he joined the Bank of Mississippi as management trainee and was appointed the head of the Credit Department in April of 1974.

In 1983 resigned from the bank to work as the Chief Financial Officer of a local furniture manufacturing company owned by his then inlaws.

Rehired at the Bank of Mississippi in July of 1983 where he was Senior Vice President and head of the Credit Department.

In 1990 became an instructor at the Mississippi Bankers’ Association’s School of Banking at the University of Mississippi and in 2001 was chosen by the Trustees as a ‘Distinguished Faculty’.

He retired in September 2010 after 37 years of service.

See Peter Avent for the results of a DNA study proving blood lineage to Col. Thomas Avent who was the progenitor of the Avent family in America.