Jed Johnson (Oklahoma politician)

Jed Johnson
Johnson as an Oklahoma State Senator, 1921
Judge of the United States Customs Court
In office
June 25, 1947 – May 8, 1963
Appointed by Harry S. Truman
Preceded by William John Keefe
Succeeded by James Lopez Watson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 6th district
In office
March 4, 1927 – January 3, 1947
Preceded by J. W. Elmer Thomas
Succeeded by Toby Morris
Member of the Oklahoma Senate
In office
1920–1926
Personal details
Born Jed Joseph Johnson
(1888-07-31)July 31, 1888
Waxahachie, Texas
Died May 8, 1963(1963-05-08) (aged 74)
New York City
Resting place Rose Hill Cemetery
35°1′54″N 97°56′45″W / 35.03167°N 97.94583°W / 35.03167; -97.94583 (Jed Johnson Burial Site)
Political party Democratic
Alma mater University of Oklahoma College of Law LL.B.
Profession Judge
Military service
Allegiance United States United States of America
Service/branch  United States Army
Years of service 1918–1919
Unit Company L of the 36th Division
Battles/wars World War I

Jed Joseph Johnson (July 31, 1888 – May 8, 1963) was a politician from the state of Oklahoma and served as a Judge for the United States Customs Court.[1]

Early life and education

Johnson was born in Waxahachie, Texas, and he graduated from the University of Oklahoma's law department, class of 1915, receiving a Bachelor of Laws degree, with postgraduate work at University of Clermont at Clermont-Ferrand, France. He was admitted to the bar in 1918 and began practicing law in Walters, Oklahoma. Johnson served overseas as a private in World War I in Company L of the 36th Division in 1918 and 1919. He edited a newspaper in Cotton County, Oklahoma, from 1920 to 1922.[2]

Political career

He was first elected to public office to the Oklahoma State Senate in 1920 as a Democrat and served until 1926, when he was elected to the House of Representatives. He served as a delegate to the annual peace conference of the Interparliamentary Union at Paris, France, in 1927 and 1937, and at Geneva, Switzerland, in 1929, and was chairman of the speakers' bureau for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. He served 20 years in Congress until losing the Democratic primary election in 1946.

Federal judicial service

Johnson was appointed to the United States Customs Court by President Roosevelt in 1945, but declined it. On April 7, 1947, President Truman nominated him to serve as a Judge on the Customs Court, to the seat vacated by Judge William John Keefe. He was confirmed by the Senate on June 23, 1947, and received his commission on June 25, 1947. He served on the court until his death and was succeeded by Judge James Lopez Watson.

Death

Johnson died in a New York City hospital on May 8, 1963. Johnson was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Chickasha, Oklahoma.[1]

Jed Johnson Lake in the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge is named in honor of Johnson.[2]

His son Jed Johnson Jr. served one term in Congress.

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Biographical Directory of the United States Congress". Retrieved 2010-07-10.
  2. 1 2 Hanneman, Carolyn G. "Johnson, Jed Joseph (1888-1963)". Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Oklahoma Historical Society. Retrieved February 17, 2013.

References

  • Jed Joseph Johnson at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
  • "Jed Johnson". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • Jed J. Johnson Collection at the Carl Albert Center
  • "Jed Joseph Johnson". U.S. Congressman. Find a Grave. October 5, 2005. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Elmer Thomas		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Oklahoma's 6th congressional district
1927–1947		 Succeeded by
Toby Morris
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