Oliver is one of the best-known educators in the state. He retired in 1992 but has remained active in the community and in education, as well as the business sector. Oliver began his career in Ada selling newspapers. He served in the U.S. Army in the Korean War, and later managed six newspapers after earning his doctorate from the University of Tulsa, among them, the Broken Arrow Ledger. During his tenure as Superintendent of Broken Arrow Public Schools, Oliver helped guide the growth of the City from a population of 10,000 to 60,000. Oliver and his wife, Vinita, raised three children in the community, Shirley, Mark and Paul.