Joseph B. Johnson


Joseph Blaine Johnson was an American politician who served as the 70th Governor of the state of Vermont from 1955 to 1959.

Biography

Born in Helsingborg, Sweden, Johnson moved with his family from Sweden to Springfield, Windsor County, Vermont in 1902 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen. He graduated from the University of Vermont in 1915, became a mechanical engineer. Johnson was a Congregationalist. He married Virginia F. Slack on September 23, 1919.

Career

Johnson worked at the Bryant Chucking Grinder Company, starting as a draftsman and retiring as General Manager in 1949. He also served as vice president of the Springfield Cooperative Savings and Loan Association, director of the First National Bank of Springfield, and director of the Lovejoy Tool Company of Springfield.
Johnson was elected to the Vermont House of Representatives in 1945 and served from 1945 to 1946. He was elected to the Vermont Senate from Windsor County in 1947 and served until 1950. He then served two terms from 1951 to 1954 as the 63rd Lieutenant Governor of Vermont.
Receiving the Republican nomination for governor, Johnson won the election and served from January 6, 1955 to January 6, 1959. During his administration, he sponsored legislation supporting increased financial support for the University of Vermont. He also facilitated Vermont's inclusion in the federal interstate highway system. He was a Vermont delegate to the 1956 Republican National Convention. After serving two terms as governor, he retired from public life but remained director of the Lovejoy Tool Company.

Death

Johnson died on October 25, 1986 and is interred at Summerhill Cemetery, Springfield, Windsor County, Vermont.