Fulton was the last Democrat to serve as Governor of Iowa until the 1999 inauguration of Tom Vilsack.

Ray had won the gubernatorial election in November 1968, but, as per the state constitution, was not eligible to assume the role of governor until that day.

Fulton later ran for a full term as governor in 1970, but was defeated by Ray.

For the last decade of his life, he resided at Jones Harrison Senior Living in Minneapolis.

At the time of his death, he was the last living former American governor who left office in the 1960s.