rappleyea jr. was born on november 2, 1933, in norwich, chenango county, new york. he attended wagner college. he graduated a.b. from suny albany in 1957, and j.d. from cornell law school in 1962. he was admitted to the bar in 1964, and practiced in norwich. he also entered politics as a republican, and was city attorney of norwich from 1970 to 1973.