Tom Johnson (Illinois politician)

Thomas Lee Johnson (April 30, 1945 – December 3, 2018) was a Republican Illinois State Senator. He represented the 48th district in the Illinois Senate from 2011 to 2013. Johnson previously served in the Illinois House of Representatives from 1993 to 2003.[1][2]

Tom Johnson
Member of the Illinois Senate
from the 48th district
In office
January 2011 – January 2013
Preceded byRandy Hultgren
Succeeded byAndy Manar (redistricted)
Member of the Illinois House of Representatives
from the 50th district
In office
January 1993 – January 2003
Preceded byDonald Hensel
Succeeded byPatricia Reid Lindner
Personal details
Born(1945-04-30)April 30, 1945
Oakland, California, U.S.
DiedDecember 3, 2018(2018-12-03) (aged 73)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseVirginia “Ginger” Van Der Molen Johnson
Residence(s)West Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Michigan (BA)
DePaul University (JD)
Professionattorney

Early life and education

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Born in California and raised in South Dakota and Illinois, Johnson was the son of an ordained minister.[3] Johnson graduated from Oak Lawn Community High School in Oak Lawn, Illinois in 1963 and then served in the Army from 1966 until 1968.[4] He then earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Michigan in 1970.[4] He then earned a J.D. degree from the DePaul University College of Law in 1974.[4]

Professional career

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Johnson began his career in 1974 as a prosecutor in DuPage County, Illinois, rising to become the chief of its white-collar crime division.[4] Johnson then cofounded his own law firm in 1979.[4] He ran for U.S. Congress as a Republican in 1984, but lost in the primary to John E. Grotberg.[5][4][6]

In 1992, Johnson won election to the 50th district[6] in the Illinois House, where he served for the next 10 years.[4] He served in a heavily Republican district that stretched from western DuPage County to St. Charles, Illinois.[7] He chose not to seek re-election in 2002.[7]

Johnson would then go on to serve on the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.[4]

In 2010, Johnson was appointed to an Illinois Senate seat to fill the vacancy left by the ascension of Randy Hultgren to U.S. Congress.[7]

Death

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Johnson died of cancer on December 3, 2018.[4]

References

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  1. ^ "Tom Johnson". 98th Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  2. ^ "'Illinois Blue Book 2001-2002,' Biographical Sketch of Thomas L. Johnson, pg. 96".
  3. ^ "Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0013".
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Pearson, Rick. "Former West Chicago state legislator Tom Johnson dies at 73". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-09-23.
  5. ^ https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=377880
  6. ^ a b Baker, Linda Young and Wayne. "FOX TOLLWAY COULD BE KEY TO 50TH DISTRICT HOUSE RACE". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-09-23.
  7. ^ a b c Smith, Katlyn (2018-12-07). "Longtime lawmaker remembered as 'effective advocate' in Springfield". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2020-09-23.
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