Rudolph Tenerowicz graduated from medical school in 1912 and practiced medicine in Chicago before moving to Hamtramck, Michigan, in 1923. He served in the Medical Corps during World War I and held leadership roles in the Medical Reserve Corps. Tenerowicz held various political positions, including mayor of Hamtramck and member of the Wayne County Board of Supervisors. He was elected to Congress as a Democrat and later ran unsuccessfully for renomination and election as a Republican. Tenerowicz implemented a tennis program to combat youth crime and was involved in racial segregation issues during his tenure in the Federal Works Agency.

Rudolph Tenerowicz's political career is marked by a blend of progressive community engagement and racially charged policy decisions. His innovative use of a tennis program to combat youth crime in Hamtramck contrasts sharply with his racially discriminatory actions within the Federal Works Agency, showcasing a complex and sometimes contradictory approach to governance. Tenerowicz's willingness to engage in controversial actions, followed by a return to public service, reveals a strategic political identity that is both principled and opportunistic.