Ullman was born in Great Falls, Montana, and raised in Snohomish, Washington, where his father was a farmer and carpenter.
All four of his grandparents were German immigrants.
In 1935, he graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington (where he played football as a running end) with a degree in political science.
After teaching American history and government at Port Angeles High School in Washington for two years, Ullman earned a master's degree in public law from Columbia University in 1939.

Later, from 1942 to 1945, he served as a communications officer with the United States Navy in the South Pacific during World War II.
 After the war, Ullman settled in Baker, Oregon (now known as Baker City) where, having taught himself how to design and build houses, he worked as a builder and real estate developer in the early 1950s.
Ullman was born in Great Falls, Montana, and raised in Snohomish, Washington, where his father was a farmer and carpenter. All four of his grandparents were German immigrants. In 1935, he graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington (where he played football as a running end) with a degree in political science. After teaching American history and government at Port Angeles High School in Washington for two years, Ullman earned a master's degree in public law from Columbia University in 1939.
Later, from 1942 to 1945, he served as a communications officer with the United States Navy in the South Pacific during World War II.  After the war, Ullman settled in Baker, Oregon (now known as Baker City) where, having taught himself how to design and build houses, he worked as a builder and real estate developer in the early 1950s.
Al Ullman