Frank "Ross" Peterson was born on September 7, 1941 in Montpelier, Idaho. After completing his education in local schools, Peterson served for two years (1960-1962) as a missionary in the Great Lakes Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Upon his return, Peterson enrolled at Utah State University and began his study of history. On December 6, 1963, he married Mary Kay Grimes. Together they raised three children; Bret Ross, Bart Allyn, and Matthew Aaron. In 1965 Peterson graduated from Utah State University. He continued his education at Washington State University until his graduation in 1968 with a Ph.D. From 1968 to 1971 Peterson taught history at the University of Texas-Arlington. In 1971 Peterson began teaching at Utah State University, where he remained until 2004. Over the course of Peterson's career at Utah State University, he held many positions including: History Department Chair; Director of the Mountain West Center for Regional Studies; and Executive Secretary of the David W. and Beatrice Cannon Evans Biography Award. Peterson also served as the editor for, The Dialogue; a Journal of Mormon Thought, from 1987 to 1992. Some of his publications include: Idaho: A Bicentennial History; The Teton Dam Disaster: Tragedy or Triumph; The History of Cache County; and Prophet Without Honor: Glen H. Taylor and the Fight for American Liberalism. In 2004, Peterson became president of Deep Springs College, where he had previously taught several times as a visiting professor. In 2007 he returned to USU to become the Vice Provost for University Advancement. He retired in 2011.