Carl C. Rueter was born December 23, 1940 in Pittsburgh, PA and grew up in Squirrel Hill. He graduated from Taylor Alderdice High School in 1959 and Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University) in 1964 with a degree in Industrial Management. Carl worked for Westinghouse Air Brake from 1964 to 1969 in Production and Inventory Control, during which he attended Duquesne University Law School. He graduated in 1969 with a Juris Doctor degree.

Carl began his career with Wilner, Wilner and Kuhn, a small Pittsburgh law firm, and then spent 27 years with the Pittsburgh Regional Office of the Veterans Administration (now Department of Veterans Affairs) in the Loan Guaranty Division.

In addition, Carl graduated from the American Experience program at the University of Pittsburgh and Leadership Pittsburgh. He served on the Board of Directors of ACTION-Housing for 12 years, the last three as President. Carl also volunteered with United Way for many years.

Carl is married with two grown children and two grandchildren.