Wallace J. S. Johnson (January 29, 1913 – August 12, 1979) was Mayor of Berkeley, California. A moderate

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

and the last of his party to hold the office, he served two terms from 1963 to 1971 during the most politically turbulent time in Berkeley's history. Johnson was an engineer by training, a graduate of

Caltech The California Institute of Technology (branded as Caltech or CIT)The university itself only spells its short form as "Caltech"; the institution considers other spellings such a"Cal Tech" and "CalTech" incorrect. The institute is also occasional ...

. He held several patents.

Biography

Johnson was born in

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, on January 29, 1913. In 1947, he founded Up-Right, Inc., a

scaffolding Scaffolding, also called scaffold or staging, is a temporary structure used to support a work crew and materials to aid in the construction, maintenance and repair of buildings, bridges and all other man-made structures. Scaffolds are widely use ...

company in Berkeley. He was Mayor of Berkeley, California as a moderate

from 1963 to 1971. Besides presiding over the often tumultuous city council meetings of the 1960s, one of his most notable achievements was leading the effort to have the tracks of the proposed

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line through Berkeley constructed underground instead of elevated as had been the original plan. 83% of Berkeley voters voted to increase local taxes to have the tracks underground. He died on August 12, 1979, in Berkeley, aged 66.California Death Index
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Books authored

* ''The Uncommon Man in American Business'' (1966), OCLC 835874378 * ''Responsible Individualism: Perspectives on a Political Philosophy for Our Time'' (1967), OCLC 885789 * ''A Fresh Look at Patriotism'' (1976), OCLC 680940449

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Wallace J.S. Mayors of Berkeley, California 1913 births 1979 deaths