An Uncommon Man was commissioned by the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library as part of its re-dedication ceremonies on August 8, 1992. The piece was premiered by the Cedar Rapids (IA) Municipal Band with the composer conducting and Richard Norton Smith, president of the library at the time, narrating.

The piece was conceived as a celebratory work about Hoover's life and his ties to the state of Iowa. The text is taken from writings and speeches made by Hoover, with each of the three sections coming from a different period in his life. The first section of the text reflects Hoover's remembrances of growing up in Iowa. The second is his famous speech about the strength of the "uncommon man." The final section of text is from a speech made on his last visit to Iowa and reflects both his memories of Iowa and his life as a whole.

The text was edited by Richard Norton Smith.