He learned the trades of paperhanger and painter from his father. Rodda was self-employed as a painter and paperhanger. Frank Gainor worked as a theatrical painter and paperhanger. Nagle subsequently resumed his business as a painter and paperhanger. His father, a Polish-born immigrant, was a paperhanger, then a storekeeper. He moved on to various semi-pro teams in Texas while also working as a paperhanger.