Terry  graduated from JSU in 1950 where he played football for four years. In 1982 he was selected as one of the 100 greatest athletes in the first 100 years of JSU and in 1989 was inducted into the JSU Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2003 he was selected to the All Century Football Team. During his coaching career, he was head football coach at Hokes Bluff High School and Florala, AL. He moved to Tucker High School where his overall record was 77-22. He was selected Coach of the Year in 1957 and 1963 and won three regional championships. He then moved into administration in the country office as coordinator of athletics and physical education for 14 years and then retired. He is married to the former Doris Gray of Talladega, AL.