William A. Johnson (Wisconsin politician)

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William A. Johnson
Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
from the Milwaukee 7th district
In office
May 11, 1965 – March 15, 1972
Preceded byAllen J. Flannigan
Succeeded byPosition abolished
Personal details
Born(1922-02-03)February 3, 1922
Michigamme, Michigan, U.S.
DiedSeptember 8, 1977(1977-09-08) (aged 55)
Stoughton, Wisconsin, U.S.
Cause of deathHeart attack
Resting placeLutheran East Cemetery, Stoughton
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Loraine Opalewski
​
​
(m. 1942⁠–⁠1977)​
Children5
Military service
AllegianceUnited States
Branch/serviceUnited States Navy
Years of service1943–1945
RankPetty Officer 1st Class, USN
Battles/warsWorld War II

William Alfred Johnson (February 3, 1922 – June 8, 1977) was an American machinist, union leader, and Democratic politician from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He served seven years in the Wisconsin State Assembly, from 1965 to 1972, and served the last five years of his life as a member of the Wisconsin Industry, Labor and Human Relations Commission. Prior to serving in public office, he was president of United Auto Workers Local 248 in Milwaukee.

Biography[edit]

William A. Johnson was born February 3, 1922, in Michigamme, Michigan. As a child, he moved with his parents to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was raised and educated. He graduated from Milwaukee's Riverside University High School in 1940. He enlisted in the United States Navy after the outbreak of World War II and rose to the rank of petty officer first class as a weapons technician.[1]

After the war, he returned to Milwaukee and was employed as a machinist at the Allis-Chalmers plant. Through his work, he became a member of the United Auto Workers labor union and rose to become president of UAW Local 248 from 1959 to 1961.[2] As president, he pursued disciplinary fines against several workers who had crossed a picket line during a 1959 strike.[3] He became vice president of the Milwaukee County Labor Council and sat on the state advisory committee on workmen's compensation.[1]

When incumbent state representative Allen J. Flannigan died at the start of the 1965 legislative term, Johnson jumped into the race to replace him. With labor support, Johnson secured the Democratic Party nomination over four competitors, taking 44% of the vote.[4] He went on to win 71% of the vote in a low-turnout victory in the May 1965 special election over perennial Republican candidate, attorney Leon J. Dealy.[5][6]

Johnson won re-election three times,[7][8][9] and became chairman of the Assembly labor committee in the 1971 session. He resigned in the spring of 1972 to accept appointment from Governor Patrick Lucey to the state Industry, Labor and Human Relations Commission.[10] He was reappointed by Lucey in 1975, and ultimately served on the commission until his death.[11]

He died at his home in Stoughton, Wisconsin, of a heart attack, on June 8, 1977.[11]

Personal life and family[edit]

William Johnson married Loraine Opalewski in 1942. They had five children together.[11]

Electoral history[edit]

Wisconsin Assembly (1965, 1966, 1968, 1970)[edit]

Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality
1965 Primary[6] Apr. 6 William A. Johnson Democratic 1,419 43.66% William P. Keppler Dem. 902 27.75% 3,250 517
John Schaller Dem. 391 12.03%
Dale A. Anderson Dem. 346 10.65%
Thomas J. Higgins Dem. 192 5.91%
Special[6] May 4 William A. Johnson Democratic 1,500 71.50% Leon J. Dealy Rep. 598 28.50% 2,098 902
1966 General[7] Nov. 8 William A. Johnson (inc) Democratic 4,381 76.50% Leon J. Dealy Rep. 1,346 23.50% 5,727 3,035
1968 General[8] Nov. 5 William A. Johnson (inc) Democratic 6,222 79.81% Leon J. Dealy Rep. 1,574 20.19% 7,796 4,648
1970 General[8] Nov. 3 William A. Johnson (inc) Democratic 3,802 81.80% James LeRoy Rep. 846 18.20% 4,648 2,956

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Theobald, H. Rupert, ed. (1966). "Biographies". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1966 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 52. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  2. ^ "Machinist Eyes Assembly Seats". The Capital Times. March 16, 1965. p. 4. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Set Trials In Pickets' Case". Oshkosh Northwestern. July 1, 1959. p. 5. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "William Johnson Wins 7th District Dem Primary". The Capital Times. April 7, 1965. p. 4. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "William Johnson Wins State Assembly Seat". Wisconsin State Journal. May 5, 1965. p. 21. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ a b c Theobald, H. Rupert, ed. (1966). "Elections in Wisconsin". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1966 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 746, 758. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1968). "Elections in Wisconsin". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1968 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 714, 726. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  8. ^ a b c Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1970). "Elections in Wisconsin". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1970 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 804, 819. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  9. ^ Theobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1971). "Elections in Wisconsin". The State of Wisconsin Blue Book 1971 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 303, 320. Archived from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  10. ^ "Rep. Johnson Appointed to Industry-Labor Panel". The Capital Times. March 15, 1972. p. 2. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ a b c "DILHR official Johnson dies". The Capital Times. June 9, 1977. p. 11. Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
Wisconsin State Assembly
Preceded by Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Milwaukee 7th district
May 11, 1965 – March 15, 1972 		District abolished
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