Federal Glover was born on May 9, 1956 in Pittsburg, CA; He is the son of Morris Glover and Lucille Ball. Glover's parents were both from the American South, his father being from Natchez, MS and mother being from Tallulah, LA. In search of work and financial stability, Glover's parents looked west, and found employment in Pittsburg, CA. His father was employed by US Steel, and his mother worked at a local cannery. Glover is one of twelve kids, and was the first of his siblings to have gone to college.
As a student, Glover attended Pittsburg High-school and graduated in 1975. While at Pittsburg high, Glover was voted Student Body President by his peers, and was named Homecoming King. Outside of school, he participated in President Reagan's statewide youth commission in California, which prioritized research into some of the significant issues of that time. After graduation, Glover went to San Francisco State University where he studied Business Administration.