Bio

Cornelius graduated from Missouri Valley College in 1950 and was co-captain of the basketball and track teams and participated in football.

Following graduation Cornelius attended and graduated from the FBI Academy, at which time he was promoted to supervisory duties at the FBI headquarters in Washington D.C.  In 1967 the FBI placed Cornelius on loan to the Committee on Appropriations of the U.S. House of Representatives, to supervise the activities of the committee’s survey and investigations staff.  Cornelius was appointed permanent director in 1973.