Ray E. Johnson
Ray E. Johnson was a Republican member of the California State Assembly from the 4th District from 1965 to 1974. He also served in the California State Senate, unseating incumbent Democrat Randolph Collier in 1976 to represent the 1st District from 1976 to 1984. He changed his party affiliation to Independent in 1983 and lost the 1984 general election to Republican former Assemblyman John T. Doolittle.
Johnson was born in Oroville, California on March 22, 1911. He attended Oroville public schools and the University of California. On December 28, 1935, he married Lorraine Christian. They had two children, Mary Lou and Ray E., Jr. He founded the Christian and Johnson Garden and Nursery and the Christian and Johnson Company in Chico.
He served as president of the Chico Rotary Club, the Chico Shrine, and the Arbuckle Lions. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout and served as chairman of the Bidwell District Boy Scouts. He belonged to the Elks, Masons, Knights of Pythias and the Ben Ali Temple of Shrine.
Prior to serving in the legislature, he was a member of the Butte County Board of Education and the Butte and Colusa County grand juries. He was elected to the Assembly in 1964, and served five terms; he was defeated for re-election in 1974 in the newly-drawn 1st District by Democratic fellow incumbent Pauline L. Davis.
Johnson died in Chico on November 18, 1993.Legacy
A segment of Highway 99 south of Chico is named the "Ray E. Johnson Expressway."
