Born and raised in Waco, Pete attended Waco public schools until the ninth grade, playing sports, becoming an Eagle Scout, and throwing newspapers for the Waco Tribune-Herald. Pete left Waco when his family moved to Washington D.C., where his father began his career at the Department of Justice.

After graduating from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Pete joined the Southwestern Bell Telephone company, where he worked for 16 years, never missing a day of work, and taking early retirement as District Manager, just prior to running for Congress.

Throughout his personal and professional life, Pete has been involved in community activities, serving in various leadership roles with the Chamber of

Commerce, Boy Scouts of America, disability assistance, and local conservation groups, as well as serving on the Board of Trustees of his alma mater for twelve years.

In 1994, Pete ran for Congress by challenging Democrat congressman John Bryant in a district that stretched from east Dallas to many counties now in the 17th Congressional District. Falling just shy of pulling off an upset, Pete ran again in 1996, winning that year and serving in Congress from 1997 to January of 2019.

While in Congress, Pete was part of the Republican House majority that balanced the federal budget four years in a row from 1998 to 2001. He led the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) as its chairman from 2009 through 2012. He also served as Chairman of the House Rules Committee.

Pete is a proud father of two sons, Bill and Alex, three stepsons, Conor, Liam, and Nicholas. Pete and his wife, Karen, reside in Waco. They are members of the First United Methodist Church of Waco, Texas.