Bruce is an attorney licensed in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and West Virginia. Bruce was born in Dayton, the son of a career Navy sailor. He attended high school in Lawrence County, Ohio, graduating from South Point High in 1974. His maternal grandfather worked as a millwright and pipefitter in South Point, Ohio and Huntington, West Virginia. His paternal grandfather was a farmer in Lawrence County, Ohio, while working additional jobs to raise his family of 13 children. Bruce is a member of Mount Hope Baptist Church, which was founded on land donated by his great grandfather. He has been an attorney since 1991. Bruce has a bachelors and masters degree in journalism. Prior to law school Bruce served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Nimitz as a photographer. After the Navy, Bruce worked to put himself through college, earning a teaching degree in social studies and journalism. After graduation, Bruce taught high school and worked as a journalist. Bruce has represented injured union workers nationwide for the majo