House 1987-92 (District 57B); House 1993-98 (District 58B)
Party when first elected: Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Counties Served:
Hennepin
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Date of Birth:
1/20/1931
Birth Place:
Cincinnati, Ohio
Birth County:
Birth Country:
Date of Death:
6/28/2021
Gender:
Male
Religion:
Reported Minority: Black
Other Names:
Jeff
City of Residence (when first elected):
Minneapolis
Occupation (when first elected):
Retired Chemist, U.S. Bureau of Mines
EDUCATION
Xavier University, New Orleans, Louisiana; B.S.; Chemistry
OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE
Military:
United States Army (Korean War Veteran, 7th Infantry Division);
[Dates Unknown]
State Board/Commission/Council:
Metropolitan Sports Facility Commission (Commissioner);
[Dates Unknown]
U.S. Executive Branch:
United States Bureau of Mines (Head of Research Services, Chemist);
1963 to 1986
Municipal Government:
Minneapolis, Minnesota (Housing and Redevelopment Authority);
1974 to 1981
Municipal Government:
Minneapolis, Minnesota (Community Development Agency);
1981 to 1985
Municipal Government:
Minneapolis, Minnesota (Public Housing Authority);
1985 to 1986
FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS
Spouse:
Mary Louise (when first elected; she died in 1998); Widower; Alice M. Johnson (remarried in 1999, after he left office)
Children:
Five children
Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:
Alice M. Johnson
- Wife
GENERAL NOTES
At the time of his election in 1986, he was the only black Legislator. (Pioneer Press, February 11, 1996)
He "authored the bill that made Minnesota the fourth state in the country to recognize Juneteenth." (Star Tribune, July 6, 2021)
He declared his candidacy for Minneapolis Mayor on January 12, 1992 for the 1993 Mayoral election. He dropped from the race in June of 1993.
He is interred at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.