Appling was born in 1919 in Carthage, Texas. His father was Howell Appling, Senior He received a degree in engineering from Rice University in 1941 before joining the United States. Navy during World World War II, where he rose to the rank of lieutenant.
Rice University.
In 1946, after completing his military service, Appling founded Independent Distributors, a Portland wholesale logging and farm equipment firm. Appling served as the Multnomah County chairman of Mark Hatfield"s successful 1958 bid for governor. After the election, Appling was appointed Secretary of State by Hatfield, who preceded him in that office.
Appling was elected to a full term in 1960 (defeating Monroe Sweetland), but declined to seek re-election in 1964.
He was succeeded by Tom McCall in January 1965. Appling served as the Oregon chairman of the Oregon presidential campaigns of Barry Goldwater in 1964, and Richard Nixon in 1968.
He continued as a prominent Portland businessman until his death there on October 16, 2002.
