He served as a police officer for the Dallas County Community College District from 1976 to 1979 while attending Eastfield Community College. He is a magna cum laude graduate of Abilene Christian University at Dallas, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. He went on to earn his Juris Doctor degree at Southern Methodist University’s School of Law. Commissioner Cantrell opened a private law practice and, in 1983, Commissioner Mike Cantrell and his wife Lorrie have one daughter and two grandchildren.