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]
^ abTheobald, H. Rupert, ed. (1966). "Biographies". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1966 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. p. 52. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
^"Machinist Eyes Assembly Seats". The Capital Times. March 16, 1965. p. 4. from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Set Trials In Pickets' Case". Oshkosh Northwestern. July 1, 1959. p. 5. from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^"William Johnson Wins 7th District Dem Primary". The Capital Times. April 7, 1965. p. 4. from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^"William Johnson Wins State Assembly Seat". Wisconsin State Journal. May 5, 1965. p. 21. from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abcTheobald, H. Rupert, ed. (1966). "Elections in Wisconsin". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1966 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 746, 758. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
^ abTheobald, H. Rupert; Robbins, Patricia V., eds. (1968). "Elections in Wisconsin". The Wisconsin Blue Book 1968 (Report). Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. pp. 714, 726. from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
^ abcTheobald, 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. from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
^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. from the original on December 29, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
^"Rep. Johnson Appointed to Industry-Labor Panel". The Capital Times. March 15, 1972. p. 2. from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
^ abc"DILHR official Johnson dies". The Capital Times. June 9, 1977. p. 11. from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved October 17, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
william, johnson, wisconsin, politician, william, alfred, johnson, february, 1922, june, 1977, american, machinist, union, leader, democratic, politician, from, milwaukee, wisconsin, served, seven, years, wisconsin, state, assembly, from, 1965, 1972, served, l. 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 William A JohnsonMember of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Milwaukee 7th districtIn office May 11 1965 March 15 1972Preceded byAllen J FlanniganSucceeded byPosition abolishedPersonal detailsBorn 1922 02 03 February 3 1922Michigamme Michigan U S DiedSeptember 8 1977 1977 09 08 aged 55 Stoughton Wisconsin U S Cause of deathHeart attackResting placeLutheran East Cemetery StoughtonPolitical partyDemocraticSpouseLoraine Opalewski m 1942 1977 wbr Children5Military serviceAllegianceUnited StatesBranch serviceUnited States NavyYears of service1943 1945RankPetty Officer 1st Class USNBattles warsWorld War II Contents 1 Biography 2 Personal life and family 3 Electoral history 3 1 Wisconsin Assembly 1965 1966 1968 1970 4 ReferencesBiography editWilliam 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 editWilliam Johnson married Loraine Opalewski in 1942 They had five children together 11 Electoral history editWisconsin Assembly 1965 1966 1968 1970 edit Year Election Date Elected Defeated Total Plurality1965 Primary 6 Apr 6 William A Johnson Democratic 1 419 43 66 William P Keppler Dem 902 27 75 3 250 517John 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 9021966 General 7 Nov 8 William A Johnson inc Democratic 4 381 76 50 Leon J Dealy Rep 1 346 23 50 5 727 3 0351968 General 8 Nov 5 William A Johnson inc Democratic 6 222 79 81 Leon J Dealy Rep 1 574 20 19 7 796 4 6481970 General 8 Nov 3 William A Johnson inc Democratic 3 802 81 80 James LeRoy Rep 846 18 20 4 648 2 956References edit a b Theobald H Rupert ed 1966 Biographies The Wisconsin Blue Book 1966 Report Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau p 52 Retrieved October 17 2023 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 AssemblyPreceded byAllen J Flannigan Member of the Wisconsin State Assembly from the Milwaukee 7th districtMay 11 1965 March 15 1972 District abolished Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William A Johnson Wisconsin politician amp oldid 1209059425, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
