Contact Us Press Room. Jed Johnson, Sr. Born on a farm near Waxahachie, Texas, on July 31, , U. Jed Joseph Johnson was the son of Lafayette D. That same year the family moved to a farm in Cotton County, Oklahoma. The future congressman was educated in the public schools of Oklahoma and graduated from the law department of the University of Oklahoma in Admitted to the bar in , Johnson opened a law office in Walters.
Shortly thereafter he entered the army and saw action in France during World War I. Upon his return to the United States, he edited a newspaper in Cotton County. In Johnson began his career in public service when he was elected as a Democrat to the Oklahoma Senate. As a member of the state legislature until , he advocated many programs for veterans.
While a state senator, he married Beatrice Luginbyhl in House of Representatives. He held this seat for twenty years. A strong supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal, Johnson promoted legislation for veterans, including sponsoring a bill, which established Civilian Conservation Corps camps for veterans.
He also called for liberal old-age pensions, endorsed improvements in the farm tenancy program, fought successfully to retain Fort Sill in Oklahoma, labored to acquire the federal reformatory at El Reno, and favored vocational education programs in the public schools. The Oklahoma congressman also represented the United States at the annual peace conference of the Interparliamentary Union in , , and In Johnson was unsuccessful in his quest for renomination. The next year Pres.
Harry S. Truman appointed him as a judge to the U. Customs Court. Interestingly, Roosevelt had named the Oklahoman to this position in , but he had declined.
