Early Gale publications included the National Directory of Rack Jobbers[6] and the National Directory of Trading Stamp Houses[7] His first major success was the Encyclopedia of Associations, (originally titled the Encyclopedia of American Associations) in 1956.
[9] Other major publications included Contemporary Authors and the Dictionary of Literary Biography.
[10] In 1985, Ruffner founded the publishing company Omnigraphics with his son Peter.
[12] Ruffner enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of seventeen and fought at Saipan and Okinawa during World War II.
He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for Valor and the Combat Infantryman Badge.