He received his education at David Lipscomb College (now Lipscomb University, Abilene Christian College (now Abilene Christian University (Bachelor), University of Illinois (Master of Arts), and Louisiana State University (Doctor of Philosophy).
At the age of 17 he began a 43-year preaching ministry that ranged from Illinois and Louisiana to Tennessee. He began preaching for the Madison church in 1953 and continued for 32 years. He wrote several books, most notably Balance - A Tried And Tested Formula Foreign Church Growth.
North was instrumental in starting a retirement home and an orphanage in the area of Madison, Tennessee.
The Gospel Advocate posthumously called him a "lover of the very young" in 1990.
