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    Johnson, Alfred I.

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 1941-58 (District 25)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus

    Counties Served:  Swift

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: ??/??/1898
    Birth Place: Six Mile Grove, Minnesota
    Birth County: Swift
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 2/15/1977
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Benson
    Occupation (when first elected): Owner and Operator, Grocery Business

    EDUCATION

    Minnesota Schools; Elementary School; 8th Grade Education

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Board of Regents: University of Minnesota; 1959 to 1965

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Adeline Rasmussen
    Children: Two children: Marilyn Ann (daughter), James (son, served as an aide to Vice-President Walter Mondale), (both born while he was in office)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He was of Norwegian ancestry.

    He was born and raised on a farm.

    He was one of the people who helped combine the Minnesota Farmer-Labor party with the Democratic party to form the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party.

    "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)

    A public affairs scholarship at the University of Minnesota was named for him in 1987.

    He died at a nursing home in Benson, Minnesota. His funeral was held at Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in Benson, Minnesota. He was buried in the city cemetery in Benson, Minnesota.

    He was a member of Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in Benson, Minnesota.

    Religion provided by the Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957 and his obituaries.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 6573

    SESSIONS SERVED

    60th Legislative Session (1957-1958)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/6/1956
    Residence: Benson
    Term of Office: 1/8/1957 to 1/5/1959
    Counties Represented: Swift
    Occupation: Businessman, Real Estate
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.); "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
    Committees:
    Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
    Leadership Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.)
    term photo
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    59th Legislative Session (1955-1956)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/2/1954
    Residence: Benson
    Term of Office: 1/4/1955 to 1/7/1957
    Counties Represented: Swift
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.); "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
    Committees:
    Leadership Position: Speaker of the House
    Leadership Notes: "The Liberals have controlled the House only in 1933, 1937, 1955, 1957, 1959 and 1961." (Mitau, G. Theodore. Politics in Minnesota, 1970, p. 83.)

    58th Legislative Session (1953-1954)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/5/1952
    Residence: Benson
    Term of Office: 1/6/1953 to 1/3/1955
    Counties Represented: Swift
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Markets and Marketing
    • Taxes
    • Temperance and Liquor Control
    • Towns and Counties

    57th Legislative Session (1951-1952)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/7/1950
    Residence: Benson
    Term of Office: 1/2/1951 to 1/5/1953
    Counties Represented: Swift
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Markets and Marketing
    • Taxes
    • Temperance and Liquor Control
    • Towns and Counties
    term photo
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    56th Legislative Session (1949-1950)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/2/1948
    Residence: Benson
    Term of Office: 1/4/1949 to 1/1/1951
    Counties Represented: Swift
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
    Committees:
    • Communications
    • Education
    • Taxes
    • Temperance and Liquor Control
    • Veterans and Military Affairs
    term photo
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    55th Legislative Session (1947-1948)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/5/1946
    Residence: Benson
    Term of Office: 1/7/1947 to 1/3/1949
    Counties Represented: Swift
    Occupation: Business
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
    Committees:
    • Banking
    • Employees Compensation
    • Taxes
    • Temperance and Liquor Control

    54th Legislative Session (1945-1946)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/7/1944
    Residence: Benson
    Term of Office: 1/2/1945 to 1/6/1947
    Counties Represented: Swift
    Occupation: Merchant
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
    Committees:
    • Aviation
    • Cooperatives
    • Education
    • Employees Compensation
    • Temperance and Liquor Control
    term photo
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    53rd Legislative Session (1943-1944)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/3/1942
    Residence: Benson
    Term of Office: 1/5/1943 to 1/1/1945
    Counties Represented: Swift
    Occupation: Merchant, Operates Own Grocery Business
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
    Committees:
    • Aircraft and Airways
    • Civilian Defense, Veterans and Military Affairs
    • Communications
    • Education
    • Temperance and Liquor Control
    term photo
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    52nd Legislative Session (1941-1942)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 25
    Elected: 11/5/1940
    Residence: Benson
    Term of Office: 1/7/1941 to 1/4/1943
    Counties Represented: Swift
    Occupation: Owner and Operator, Grocery Business
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Liberal Caucus Party Notes: "The Benson liberal has long been identified with Swift county activity in the DFL party and before that the Farmer-Labor party." ("Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957)
    Committees:
    • Education
    • Public Welfare
    • Relief
    • Taxes
    • Temperance and Liquor Control
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    • "A.I. Johnson Scholarship Dedicated." Swift County Monitor-News, February 18, 1987.
    • Farley, Rose. "Public Affairs Scholarships Will Honor Former Regent." Minnesota Daily, February 11, 1987, p. 5, 8
    • "Alfred I. Johnson, The Editor's Page (Obituary)." Swift County News, February 23, 1977, p. 4.
    • "Mondale Coming for Alfred I. Johnson Funeral." Swift County Monitor, February 18, 1977.
    • "Mondale to Attend Johnson Funeral." St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 17, 1977.
    • "Ex-House Speaker A.I. Johnson Dies (Obituary)." St. Paul Pioneer Press, February 16, 1977.
    • “Know Your Minnesota Legislature: Rep. A.I. Johnson." Minneapolis Star, January 8, 1957.
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

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