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Gary Johnson (Wisconsin politician)

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Gary K. Johnson
Majority Leader of the Wisconsin Assembly
In office
January 26, 1980 – January 7, 1985
Preceded byJames W. Wahner
Succeeded byDismas Becker
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
In office
January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1985
Preceded byBarbara Ulichny
Succeeded byVernon W. Holschbach
Constituency25th district
In office
January 1, 1973 – January 3, 1983
Preceded byDistrict created
Succeeded byRobert Quackenbush
Constituency45th district
In office
January 4, 1971 – January 1, 1973
Preceded byGeorge B. Belting
Succeeded byDistrict abolished
ConstituencyRock 3rd district
Personal details
Born(1939-09-14)September 14, 1939
Grand Forks, North Dakota, U.S.
DiedAugust 8, 2008(2008-08-08) (aged 68)
Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseHeather
Children3
Alma materBeloit College (B.A.)

Gary K. Johnson (September 14, 1939 – August 8, 2008) was an American educator and Democratic politician. He served 14 years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing southern Rock County, and was majority leader from 1980 until 1985. After leaving the Assembly, he worked for a time as Assistant Superintendent in the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

Early life and career

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Born in Grand Forks, North Dakota, he moved to Beloit, Wisconsin, with his family as a child. He graduated from Beloit Memorial High School and went on to earn his bachelor's degree from Beloit College in 1963.[1] Afterwards, he went back to Beloit Memorial High School as a social studies teacher. Through his work as an educator, he became involved in the Beloit Education Association, the local branch of the Wisconsin Education Association labor union, and would become president of the local organization.[1]

Public career

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In 1970, Johnson was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in Rock County's 3rd district, defeating incumbent Republican George B. Belting.[2] He was subsequently reelected 7 times, serving until 1985.

In 1980, Democratic Assembly Majority Leader James W. Wahner announced he would resign from the Assembly in order to accept an appointment in the federal government. Johnson, considered a moderate, was elected the new majority leader on the 2nd ballot, defeating Thomas A. Loftus (of the liberal wing) and Thomas A. Hauke (conservative).[3] He remained majority leader until leaving the Assembly in 1985.[4]

After leaving the Assembly, he worked briefly as a lobbyist for Wisconsin Bell, but, in 1986, accepted appointment as Assistant Superintendent in the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, under Superintendent Herbert J. Grover.[4] He left government service again in 1990, and worked as a lobbyist until retiring in 1996.[4]

Personal life

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Johnson and his wife, Heather, had three children together. He died at his home in Madison, Wisconsin, in August 2008.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Johnson, Gary K. 1939". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  2. ^ Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1971). "Elections" (PDF). The state of Wisconsin Blue Book, 1971 (Report). State of Wisconsin. pp. 304, 321. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  3. ^ Still, Thomas W. (January 24, 1980). "Johnson is elected Assembly floor leader". Wisconsin State Journal. p. 4. Retrieved February 10, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c d "Former Assembly Speaker Gary Johnson dies at 68". La Crosse Tribune. August 15, 2008. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
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Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Rock 3rd district
January 4, 1971 – January 1, 1973
District abolished
District created Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 45th district
January 1, 1973 – January 3, 1983
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the 25th district
January 3, 1983 – January 7, 1985
Succeeded by
Preceded by Majority Leader of the Wisconsin Assembly
January 26, 1980 – January 7, 1985
Succeeded by