he was born in grant city, missouri. in 1899, lucas settled in buffalo, wyoming. he served in the wyoming house of representatives and then in the wyoming state senate. upon the death of governor william b. ross in 1924, lucas, then serving as secretary of state of wyoming, was next in line of succession. he served until january 1925, when the election of november 1924 put ross' widow, democrat nellie tayloe ross, the first woman governor in the history of the united states in power. he ran for governor in 1926 but was defeated in the republican primary by frank emerson. lucas died in buffalo, wyoming.