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]

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
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 (B.A.)
DePaul University (J.D.)
Professionattorney

Early life and education

Born in California and raised in South Dakota and Illinois, Johnson was the son of an ordained minister.[2] Johnson graduated from Oak Lawn Community High School in Oak Lawn, Illinois in 1963 and then served in the Army from 1966 until 1968.[3] He then earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Michigan in 1970.[3] He then earned a J.D. degree from the DePaul University College of Law in 1974.[3]

Professional career

Johnson began his career in 1974 as a prosecutor in DuPage County, Illinois, rising to become the chief of its white-collar crime division.[3] Johnson then cofounded his own law firm in 1979.[3] He ran for U.S. Congress as a Republican in 1984, but lost in the primary to John E. Grotberg.[3][4]

In 1992, Johnson won election to the 50th district[4] in the Illinois House, where he served for the next 10 years.[3] He served in a heavily Republican district that stretched from western DuPage County to St. Charles, Illinois.[5] He chose not to seek re-election in 2002.[5]

Johnson would then go on to serve on the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.[3]

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.[5]

Death

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

References
  1. "Tom Johnson". 98th Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  2. "Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0013".
  3. Pearson, Rick. "Former West Chicago state legislator Tom Johnson dies at 73". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-09-23.
  4. Baker, Linda Young and Wayne. "FOX TOLLWAY COULD BE KEY TO 50TH DISTRICT HOUSE RACE". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2020-09-23.
  5. Smith, Katlyn (2018-12-07). "Longtime lawmaker remembered as 'effective advocate' in Springfield". Daily Herald. Retrieved 2020-09-23.
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