Born and raised in Columbus, Chad attended Southwood Elementary, Columbus Academy, Barrett Jr. High and South High School. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from the Ohio State University in 1959 and a Masters Degree in Music Theory and Composition from Ohio State in 1965. He taught 32 years for Columbus Public Schools, first as an itinerant elementary specialist and then 30 Years at Marion Franklin, Chad served with the 338th Army Band and has directed church choirs, and a senior citizen choir. Since his retirement from the public schools, he has directed the Greater Columbus Concert Band and the Reynoldsburg Community Band. He also plays tuba in some small ensembles.