Jack Rushton was born and raised in White Pine County, Nevada. He attended Brigham Young University, where he received his bachelor's degree and a master's degree in counseling and guidance. He also received a doctor of education degree from USC. He was actively involved in religious education, both as a teacher and an administrator for twenty-five years.

In August of 1989, he suffered a severe accident while swimming in the ocean. It left him paralyzed from the neck down and on life support. Jack and his wife, Jo Anne, are the parents of six children and have sixteen grandchildren. They have lived in Tustin, California, since 1974.

Since his accident, Jack has been able to continue to teach, counsel, and deliver motivational talks to a variety of adult and youth audiences. Although his life is very different from what it once was, he continues to find joy and fulfillment in it and can often be heard to say, "It's good to be alive!"