and Lillie (née Marler) Burlison,[3] was born and died in Wardell, Missouri.

Burlison was admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Missouri courts.

Four months after entering the race for Congress in the 3rd District in the 2006 election, he withdrew his candidacy on November 3, 2005.

[5] Burlison moved to his birthplace of Wardell, Missouri, to run for the 149th district in 2014 as state representative Steve Hodges was facing a term limit.

[7] On February 23, 2016, he filed to run for the Missouri Senate against incumbent Republican Doug Libla, and was unopposed in the Democratic primary.