 In 1940, he received his Bachelor of Arts in history.He was married on December 17, 1940 to his first wife, Iola Faye Cure, in a ceremony performed by Homer Hailey.At the coaxing of fellow Lions International members, Welch was elected to the Houston City Council and served four two-year terms from 1950 to 1952 and then 1956 to 1962.