Richard D. Johnson
Richard D. Johnson | |
|---|---|
| 30th Iowa State Auditor | |
| In office January 26, 1979 – January 2003 | |
| Governor | Robert D. Ray Terry Branstad Tom Vilsack |
| Preceded by | Lloyd R. Smith |
| Succeeded by | David A. Vaudt |
| Mayor of Sheldahl | |
| In office 1964–1975 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Richard Dean Johnson February 3, 1935 Spencer, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Died | May 26, 2022 (aged 87) Ankeny, Iowa, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Marjorie Sire (m. 1956) |
| Children | 4 |
| Education | Drake University (BS) United States Army Command and General Staff College |
| Military service | |
| Branch | Nebraska National Guard Iowa National Guard |
| Service years | 1955-1990 |
| Rank | Colonel |
Richard Dean Johnson (February 3, 1935 – May 26, 2022) was the Iowa State Auditor from 1979 to 2003.[1][2]
Early Life
Johnson was born the last of 6 children on February 3, 1935, in Spencer, Nebraska, to Henry and Clarice (née Kerbel) Johnson.[1][2] He graduated from Spencer High School in 1952 and graduated from the General Motors Institute Dealer Co-op Program in 1954 in Flint, Michigan.[1][2] He earned his bachelor's degree in accounting in 1960 from Drake University and became a CPA in 1963.[1][2]
He began service in the Nebraska National Guard in 1955.[1][2] In 1975, he graduated from United States Army Command and General Staff College.[1] He transferred to the Iowa National Guard.[2] He attained the rank of Colonel.[2] He retired in 1990.[2]
Political Career
City Politics
He served as Sheldahl's City Clerk from 1959 to 1963 and as Sheldahl's mayor from 1964 to 1975.[1][2]
Department of Transportation
In 1968, he joined the Auditor's as the director of audits and then was appointed the director of finance for the Iowa Highway Commission.[1][2] In 1975, he was appointed as the director of the Iowa Department of Transportation's (IDOT) Administration Division and then as director of IDOT's Motor Vehicle Division in 1978.[1][2]
State Auditor
Following Auditor Smith's death in 1979, Governor Robert D. Ray appointed Johnson as Iowa State Auditor on January 26, 1979, until the 1980 Special Election.[2]
1980 Special Election
On November 4, 1980, there was a special election to replace Lloyd R. Smith, who had died on December 21, 1978.
Johnson ran as a Republican while the Democrat party ran no candidate and Thomas J. Oliver ran as a Socialist.[3] Johnson won 647,299 votes, while Oliver lost with only 17,287 votes.[3]
1982 Election
In 1982, Johnson ran against Democrat Tom Slockett and Socialist Anne R. Koloc.[4] Johnson won 511,559 votes, while Slockett lost with 429,9381 votes and Koloc only received 3,838 votes.[4] He won by 81,621 votes.[4] He was re-elected to his first full term.[4]
1986 Election
In 1986, Johnson ran against Democrat Beverly Dickerson.[5] Johnson won 419,088 votes, against Dickerson's 406,747 votes, being re-elected to his second full term.[5] He won by only 8,100 votes.[5] He won by 12,341 votes.[5]
1990 Election
In 1990, Johnson ran against Democrat Beverly Dickerson in a rematch of the 1986 election.[6] Johnson won 448,898 votes, against Dickerson's 440,798 votes, being re-elected to his third full term.[6] He won by a narrower margin of 8,100 votes, a loss of 4,241 votes from 1986.[6]
1994 Election
In 1994, Johnson ran against Democrat Dan Gray.[7] Johnson won 541,932 votes, against Gray's 367,722 votes, being re-elected to his fourth full term.[7]
1998 Election
In 1998, Johnson ran against Ronn Young of the Reform Party and William W. Graff of the Natural Law Party.[8] Johnson won re-election with 588,079 votes, beating Young who received 56,635 votes and Graff who received 40,537 votes.[8]
Personal Life and Death
He married Marjorie Sire in 1956 and had 3 daughters and 1 son.[1][2] They had 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren at the time of his death.[2] They attended Madrid Evangelical Free Church, where Johnson had served as treasurer, board member and trustee.[1][2]
He died on May 26, 2022, in Ankeny, Iowa.[2] He is buried at Sheldahl Cemetery in Sheldahl, Iowa.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Iowa Official Register. "Richard D. Johnson". iowa.gov. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Richard D. Johnson – Obituary". Ames Tribune. May 27, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ a b "Auditor of State" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. November 4, 1980. p. 5. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Canvass By Counties of The Votes Cast For Statewide 0ffices FOR AUDITOR OF STATE" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. November 2, 1982. p. 12-13. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Auditor of State" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. November 4, 1986. p. 14-15. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Iowa General Election, November 6, 1990 Auditor of State" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. November 6, 1990. p. 13-14. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ a b "November 8, 1994 AUDITOR OF STATE- General Election" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. November 8, 1994. p. 14-15. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
- ^ a b "IOWA GENERAL ELECTION - NOVEMBER 3, 1998 Canvass by Counties of the Votes Cast for Auditor of State" (PDF). Iowa Secretary of State. November 3, 1998. p. 6. Retrieved June 28, 2025.