Rodney Kohler "Rod" Johnston (September 2, 1937March 30, 2018) was an

American American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

attorney and Republican politician. He served six years in the

Wisconsin State Senate The Wisconsin Senate is the upper house of the Wisconsin State Legislature. Together with the Wisconsin State Assembly they constitute the legislative branch of the state of Wisconsin. The powers of the Wisconsin Senate are modeled after those o ...

(1979–1985) after four years in the

State Assembly State Assembly is the name given to various legislatures, especially lower houses or full legislatures in states in federal systems of government. Channel Islands States Assembly is the name of the legislature of the Bailiwick of Jersey. The Baili ...

(1975–1979), representing suburban North Shore area of

Milwaukee County Milwaukee County () is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. At the 2020 census, the population was 939,489, down from 947,735 in 2010. It is both the most populous and most densely populated county in Wisconsin, containing about 1 ...

. In 1982, he was the Republican nominee for

United States Congress The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...

Wisconsin's 5th congressional district Wisconsin's 5th congressional district is a congressional district of the United States House of Representatives in Wisconsin, covering most of Milwaukee's northern and western suburbs. It presently covers all of Washington County, Wisconsin, W ...

, but was defeated by

Jim Moody James Powers Moody (September 2, 1935March 22, 2019) was an American economist and Democratic politician. He served five terms as the U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 5th congressional district (1983–1993). At the time, the 5th congre ...

. In 1984, Johnston was challenged by Democrat Barbara Ulichny in the 4th Senate district. Ulichny prevailed in the general election, taking 55% of the vote.

Biography

Johnston was born in

Milwaukee Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

. He was educated at Wauwatosa East High School, graduating in 1955. Johnston placed first in the Naval Academy competitive examination from his Wisconsin congressional district in 1955, and was appointed to the

United States Naval Academy The United States Naval Academy (USNA, Navy, or Annapolis) is a United States Service academies, federal service academy in Annapolis, Maryland. It was established on 10 October 1845 during the tenure of George Bancroft as United States Secre ...

, graduating in 1959. He then served six years in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

. After leaving the service, he enrolled at

George Washington University Law School The George Washington University Law School (GW Law) is the law school of George Washington University, a Private university, private research university in Washington, D.C. Established in 1865, GW Law is the oldest law school in Washington, D. ...

, where he received his J.D. in 1967. Johnston began his political in career 1968 by finishing second (with 34.58% of the vote) to the eventual winner of the seat,

Jim Sensenbrenner Frank James Sensenbrenner Jr. (; born June 14, 1943) is an American politician who represented in the United States House of Representatives from 1979 to 2021 (numbered as the 9th district until 2003). He is a member of the Republican Party. ...

, in the Republican primary race for a seat in the Wisconsin Assembly. Johnston died March 30, 2018, at his home on

Tybee Island, Georgia Tybee Island ( ) is a city and a barrier island in Chatham County, Georgia, 18 miles (29 km) east of Savannah. The name is used for both the city and the island, but geographically the two are not identical: only part of the island's terri ...

, at the age of 80. He was survived by his three children, Scott, Julie and actress

Kristen Johnston Kristen Angela Johnston (born September 20, 1967) is an American actress. Best known for her work on television sitcoms, she twice won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Sally Solomon in ...

.http://foxandweeks.com/memorial/Rodney-K.-Johnston/7022#sthash.uE3EdYxx.dpbs Obituary from Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnston, Rod 1937 births 2018 deaths Politicians from Milwaukee Republican Party Wisconsin state senators Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly American people of English descent American people of German descent Wisconsin lawyers Military personnel from Milwaukee United States Navy officers United States Naval Academy alumni Candidates in the 1982 United States elections 20th-century American lawyers People from Chatham County, Georgia 20th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature