He was born on May 2, 1917, in Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, the son of Howard V. Rulison (died (1947).
During World War II he served in the U.S. Marine Corps, eventually attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Rulison was re-elected several times, and remained in the Assembly until 1958, sitting in the 165th, 166th, 167th, 168th, 169th, 170th and 171st New York State Legislatures.
In 1964, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down several decisions establishing that State legislatures should follow the One man, one vote rule to apportion their election districts.
Senators John H. Hughes and Rulison questioned the authority of the federal court to shorten the term of the 1964 electees,[4] alleging excessive costs for the additional election in an off-year.