From 1941-1945, Ike Stemmer was in the U.S. Air Force, where he was presented with the Meritorious Service Award and went from rank of corporal to master sergeant in four days. After spending 33 months overseas, he reentered Oklahoma A & M and graduated in 1948 with a B.S. degree in Agricultural Economics. His pipeline career started with H.C. Price Co., working as a timekeeper.