Glen D. Johnson
Encyclopedia
Glen Dale Johnson was a lawyer
, a U.S.
Democratic Party
politician
, a member of the United States House of Representatives
from Oklahoma
, serving one term of office from 1947 to 1949 and was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate
in 1948.
(a small town located in Izard County) on September 11, 1911. Later, in 1920, Johnson's the family relocated to Paden, Oklahoma
, where he attended the public schools. Johnson was graduated from the University of Oklahoma
Law School
at Norman
in 1939, and was admitted to the bar
the same year and began his law practice
in Okemah
.
Johnson was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives
in 1940 and re-elected in 1942—notwithstanding his resignation from the Oklahoma House in January, 1942 and his subsequent enlistment in the United States Army
following the Japanese
attack on Pearl Harbor
and the U.S. entry into World War II
. While Johnson entered the Army as a private
, in May, 1946, he was discharged as a captain. Upon his return to Oklahoma, he resumed his practice of law.
in 1949 and 1950. He served as an attorney in the Office of the Solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C.
, from 1961 to 1967. Johnson was the chairman of the Oil Import Appeals Board (representing the Department of the Interior) from 1967 to 1969. Johnson completed his legal career by serving as the attorney in Solicitor’s Office, Department of the Interior, assigned to the Muskogee, Oklahoma
field office (from 1969 to 1972). Johnson later relocated back to Okemah, Oklahoma, where he remained until his death there on February 10, 1983.
who served as Oklahoma's youngest Speaker of the House, then served in higher education—for ten years as president of Southeastern Oklahoma State University
, then as chancellor of Oklahoma's state system of higher education.
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, a U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, a member of the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, serving one term of office from 1947 to 1949 and was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
in 1948.
Early life and early political career
Johnson was born in Melbourne, ArkansasMelbourne, Arkansas
Melbourne is a city in Izard County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,673 at the 2000 census. The town is the county seat of Izard County, and home to the main campus of Ozarka College.-Geography:Melbourne is located at ....
(a small town located in Izard County) on September 11, 1911. Later, in 1920, Johnson's the family relocated to Paden, Oklahoma
Paden, Oklahoma
Paden is a town in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 446 at the 2000 census. It is named for Paden Tolbert, a U.S. Deputy Marshall who served the area in the early 1900s.-History:...
, where he attended the public schools. Johnson was graduated from the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
Law School
University of Oklahoma College of Law
The University of Oklahoma College of Law is an ABA-certified law school located on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman, Oklahoma. Currently, the College of Law has an enrollment of 527 law students....
at Norman
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
in 1939, and was admitted to the bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
the same year and began his law practice
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
in Okemah
Okemah, Oklahoma
Okemah is a city in Okfuskee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Okfuskee County. It is the birthplace of folk music legend Woody Guthrie. Thlopthlocco Tribal Town, a federally recognized Muscogee Indian tribe, is headquartered in Okemah...
.
Johnson was elected to the Oklahoma House of Representatives
Oklahoma House of Representatives
The Oklahoma House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oklahoma Legislature, the legislative body of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. Its members are responsible for introducing and voting on bills and resolutions, providing legislative oversight for state agencies, and helping to craft the...
in 1940 and re-elected in 1942—notwithstanding his resignation from the Oklahoma House in January, 1942 and his subsequent enlistment in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
following the Japanese
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
and the U.S. entry into World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. While Johnson entered the Army as a private
Private (rank)
A Private is a soldier of the lowest military rank .In modern military parlance, 'Private' is shortened to 'Pte' in the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth countries and to 'Pvt.' in the United States.Notably both Sir Fitzroy MacLean and Enoch Powell are examples of, rare, rapid career...
, in May, 1946, he was discharged as a captain. Upon his return to Oklahoma, he resumed his practice of law.
Re-entry into politics
Johnson ran for and was elected to Congress (from Oklahoma's 4th Congressional district) as a Democrat in 1946 (he served from January 3, 1947 to January 3, 1949). Johnson considered running for re-election in 1948, but instead chose to run for the U.S. Senate. After losing the Democratic nomination, Johnson retired from Congress after serving only one term.Post-Congressional career in law
After leaving Congress, Johnson continued to work in the field of law. Johnson was the neutral arbitrator for the National Mediation BoardNational Mediation Board
The National Mediation Board is an independent agency of the United States government that coordinates labor-management relations within the U.S...
in 1949 and 1950. He served as an attorney in the Office of the Solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, from 1961 to 1967. Johnson was the chairman of the Oil Import Appeals Board (representing the Department of the Interior) from 1967 to 1969. Johnson completed his legal career by serving as the attorney in Solicitor’s Office, Department of the Interior, assigned to the Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Muskogee is a city in Muskogee County, Oklahoma, United States. It is the county seat of Muskogee County, and home to Bacone College. The population was 38,310 at the 2000 census, making it the eleventh-largest city in Oklahoma....
field office (from 1969 to 1972). Johnson later relocated back to Okemah, Oklahoma, where he remained until his death there on February 10, 1983.
Family
Johnson and his wife Imogene had a son, Glen D. Johnson, Jr.Glen D. Johnson, Jr.
Glen D. Johnson Jr. is the 8th and current Chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, a state system comprising 25 state colleges and universities, 10 constituent agencies, one higher education center and independent colleges and universities coordinated with the state...
who served as Oklahoma's youngest Speaker of the House, then served in higher education—for ten years as president of Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University, often referred to as Southeastern and abbreviated as SE, or SOSU, is a public university located in Durant, Oklahoma, with an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 4,229 as of 2009.-History:...
, then as chancellor of Oklahoma's state system of higher education.
See also
- Politics of OklahomaPolitics of OklahomaPolitics of Oklahoma takes place in a framework of a presidential republic modeled after the United States, whereby the Governor of Oklahoma is both head of state and head of government, and of a pluriform two-party system. Executive power is exercised by the Governor and the government...
- Oklahoma Democratic PartyOklahoma Democratic PartyThe Oklahoma Democratic Party is an Oklahoma political party affiliated with the United States Democratic Party. Along with the Oklahoma Republican Party, it one of the two major parties in Oklahoma politics....
- Oklahoma Congressional DistrictsOklahoma Congressional DistrictsAs of the 2000 census, there are five Oklahoma United States congressional districts. Previous to the 2000 Census, Oklahoma had six congressional districts. Oklahoma was one of eight states to lose one seat in the House of Representatives that year....
- Lyle BorenLyle BorenLyle Hagler Boren was a U.S. Democratic Party politician and a member of the United States House of Representatives from Oklahoma, serving from 1937 to 1947 and was defeated for renomination in 1946...
- Tom SteedTom SteedThomas Jefferson "Tom" Steed was a military veteran, newspaper editor and Democratic politician and a retired U.S. Congressman from Oklahoma. He often stated that his experience in journalism, the military and in the U.S...
- Glen D. Johnson, Jr.Glen D. Johnson, Jr.Glen D. Johnson Jr. is the 8th and current Chancellor of the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, a state system comprising 25 state colleges and universities, 10 constituent agencies, one higher education center and independent colleges and universities coordinated with the state...