Beth Johnson (American politician)

Elizabeth "Beth" McCullough Johnson (1909–1973) was an American politician. She served as a Democratic member of the Florida House of Representatives and Florida Senate for nearly a decade.[1] Johnson became the first female state senator in Florida history upon her election in 1962.[2] She had previously become the second woman elected to the Florida House, when she was chosen to represent Orange County in 1958.[3][note 1]

Beth Johnson
Member of the Florida Senate
from the 19th district
In office
1962–1967
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from Orange County
In office
1959–1962
Preceded byJohn A. Sutton
Succeeded byRobert H. Elrod
Personal details
Born21 November 1909
Butler, Pennsylvania, United States
Died1973 (aged 63–64)
Florida, United States
Political partyDemocratic
OccupationPolitician

Johnson was a leading advocate, along with former State Senate President William A. Shands for the establishment of the University of Central Florida in 1963.[4] She considered it, along with the creation of a statewide planning and zoning system, as her chief legislative accomplishments.[1] Johnson was a member of the League of Women Voters, and was posthumously inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame in 1986.[5][6]

Senator Beth Johnson Park, a 1.26-acre (0.51-hectare) urban park located near Lake Ivanhoe in Orlando is named in her honor.

References

General:

  • James, Randall. "Morphing Orlando: Into a World-Class City" (2013), ISBN 978-1-62136-396-5
  • Weatherford, Doris. Women in American Politics: History and Milestones (2012), ISBN 978-1-60-871007-2

Notes:

  1. Florida switched to numerical district elections for the state house in 1966.

In-text:

  1. "Representative Beth Johnson". Florida Department of State. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  2. "The Florida Senate Handbook for Kids" (PDF). Florida Senate. 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-09-13. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  3. Associated Press (1986-03-28). "Justice Barkett 1 of 13 named to Fla. Women's Hall of Fame". Gainesville Sun.
  4. "UCF History". University of Central Florida. 2013. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  5. "Index to Politicians; Johnson, E to F". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved 2014-08-14.
  6. "Elizabeth McCullough Johnson". Florida Commission on the Status of Women. Archived from the original on 2010-06-05. Retrieved 2014-08-14.
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