Von Russell Creel holds B.A. and J.D. degrees from the University of Oklahoma. He was a law clerk for Judge Alfred P. Murrah from 1969 to 1971. In 1971, he joined the faculty of the Oklahoma City University School of Law. He took a leave of absence in 1975 to serve as Chief of Staff for Oklahoma Governor David Boren for two years. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Historical Society.