George Grider graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1936 and had a distinguished naval career, culminating in the command of multiple submarines and an award of the Navy Cross. After retiring from the Navy in 1947 due to a heart attack, he earned a law degree from the University of Virginia. Grider engaged in public service roles, including serving on the Memphis Planning Commission and the Shelby County Quarterly Court, before being elected to the House for the 9th congressional district. Post his defeat for reelection, he transitioned to a corporate role as vice president and general counsel for a major company before returning to his law practice in Memphis.

George Grider's political identity is marked by an intriguing blend of military valor and progressive civil rights advocacy, as evidenced by his support for the Voting Rights Act of 1965 despite his earlier electoral defeat. His career trajectory from naval officer to public servant and corporate executive suggests a highly localized approach, deeply rooted in his hometown of Memphis. Grider's unexpected convergence with opposing factions on environmental regulations hints at a calculated strategy to protect regional industrial interests. His life story, from a decorated Navy Cross recipient to a defeated congressman, reveals a politician who navigates ideological waters with a nuanced, almost contrarian stance.