Carl was born in Rowan County where he has lived most of his life. He graduated from A.L. Brown High School. Carl earned his Eagle Scout. He attended Rowan Tech and earned his certificate on Textiles, and attended NC College of Textiles in
Belmont. Carl and his wife Angela have four children and seven grandchildren. They are members of City Revival Church in Kannapolis.
From 1973-1982 Carl worked at Cannon Mills in Kannapolis as a section man and Fryes Roller Rink in Concord as a manager. In 1982, Carl began working at WRKB. In 1992, he bought WRKB and WRNA and started Ford Broadcasting. His station has
won numerous awards and Carl is a two-time Golden Mic winner. Carl's involvement in politics and the Republican Party spans several decades. He served on the Rowan County Department of Social Services Board for seven and a half years and the Rowan County Planning Board for two years. Carl was the Rowan County Republican of the Year for 2007 and 2008. From 2008-2012, he served as a Rowan County Commissioner, including a 2-year term as Vice-Chair and a 2-year term as Chair.
In 2012, Carl was elected to the North Carolina House. He is currently serving his third term in the House. He has served as committee chair for the Committee on State and Local Government for two terms. In August of 2017, Carl decided to run for North Carolina Senate.