Jay W. Johnson

Jay Withington Johnson (September 30, 1943 – October 17, 2009) was an American politician and journalist who served as the 36th director of the United States Mint, and one-term member of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin. He was also a television news anchor in the Green Bay area.[1]

Jay Johnson
36th Director of the United States Mint
In office
May 2000 – August 2001
PresidentBill Clinton
George W. Bush
Preceded byPhilip N. Diehl
Succeeded byHenrietta H. Fore
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Wisconsin's 8th district
In office
January 3, 1997 – January 3, 1999
Preceded byToby Roth
Succeeded byMark Andrew Green
Personal details
Born(1943-09-30)September 30, 1943
Bessemer, Michigan, U.S.
DiedOctober 17, 2009(2009-10-17) (aged 66)
Bristow, Virginia, U.S.
Cause of deathHeart attack
Resting placeStonewall Memory Gardens
Manassas, Virginia
Political partyDemocratic
Alma materGogebic Community College
Northern Michigan University
Michigan State University (M.A.)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1966–1968
UnitBrooke Army Medical Center

Early Life

Johnson was born in Bessemer, Michigan. He graduated from Gogebic Community College in 1963 and Northern Michigan University in 1965. Johnson was an information specialist with the United States Army from 1966 until 1968. He was on the board of directors of the Wisconsin United Way. Johnson received a master's degree from Michigan State University in 1970.

Career

Journalism

Johnson was a broadcaster and journalist working in Michigan, Indiana, and Florida before settling Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he worked for 16 years at WFRV-TV and WLUK-TV.

Politics

In 1996, Johnson was elected to represent Wisconsin's 8th congressional district in the 105th United States Congress after 18-year incumbent Toby Roth chose not to run for a 10th term. He was the fourth Democrat to represent the district in the 20th century. He was defeated after one term by State Assemblyman Mark Green in 1998. In August 1999, Johnson was nominated by President Bill Clinton to become Director of the United States Mint. He was confirmed by the United States Senate in May of 2000 and served until his successor was appointed by President George W. Bush in August 2001.[2] After leaving the U.S. Mint, he was self-employed, selling wholesale coins and was the Chief Numismatist for The Franklin Mint.[3]

On June 29, 2009, Goldline International, Inc., announced that Johnson had become a spokesperson for their company.[4]

Death

On October 17, 2009, Johnson died at his home in Bristow, Virginia, of an apparent heart attack. He was survived by his wife, JoLee, and his two stepchildren.[5][6]

Electoral history
Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District Election, 1996[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
Democratic Primary Election, September 10, 1996
Democratic Jay W. Johnson 18,293 59.06%
Democratic Stan Gruszynski 12,681 40.94%
Total votes 30,974 100.0%
General Election, November 5, 1996
Democratic Jay W. Johnson 129,551 52.04% +15.77%
Republican David Prosser, Jr. 119,398 47.96%
Plurality 10,153 4.08% -23.38%
Total votes 248,949 100.0% +38.78%
Democratic gain from Republican Swing 31.54%
Wisconsin's 8th Congressional District Election, 1998[8]
Party Candidate Votes % ±
General Election, November 3, 1998
Republican Mark Andrew Green 112,418 54.61%
Democratic Jay W. Johnson (incumbent) 93,441 45.39% -6.65%
Plurality 18,977 9.22% +5.14%
Total votes 205,859 100.0% -17.31%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing 13.30%

References
  1. "Johnson, Jay W. 1943". Wisconsin Historical Society. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  2. Ryman, Richard (October 18, 2009). "Jay Johnson dies at 66; was congressman, Green Bay TV anchor". The Post Crescent. Archived from the original on October 22, 2009. Retrieved May 20, 2009 – via Wayback Machine.
  3. "The Franklin Mint". Archived from the original on 2008-07-23. Retrieved 2009-01-05 – via Wayback Machine.
  4. "Former U.S. Mint Director Jay Johnson Becomes Spokesperson for Gold and Precious Metals Company Goldline International, Inc" (Press release). Los Angeles: Business Wire. June 29, 2009. Archived from the original on June 20, 2015. Retrieved May 10, 2020 – via Wayback Machine.
  5. "Former Congressman Jay Johnson dies". WLUK-TV. October 18, 2009. Archived from the original on October 20, 2009. Retrieved May 10, 2020 – via Wayback Machine.
  6. Ryman, Richard (October 19, 2009). "Former congressman, Green Bay TV news anchor dies". Green Bay Press-Gazette. p. A-3. Retrieved May 10, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1997). "Elections in Wisconsin". In Barish, Lawrence S. (ed.). State of Wisconsin 1997-1998 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. pp. 880, 883.
  8. Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau (1999). "Elections in Wisconsin". In Barish, Lawrence S.; Meloy, Patricia E. (eds.). State of Wisconsin 1999-2000 Blue Book (Report). Madison, Wisconsin: State of Wisconsin. p. 864.


U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Toby Roth		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Wisconsin's 8th congressional district
1997 – 1999		 Succeeded by
Mark A. Green
Government offices
Preceded by
Philip N. Diehl		 Director of the United States Mint
2000 – 2001		 Succeeded by
Henrietta H. Fore
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