Walter E. Johnston, III
Encyclopedia
Walter Eugene Johnston III, usually known as Gene Johnston (born March 3, 1936) was a member of the United States House of Representatives
from North Carolina
. He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and attended local public schools. He graduated from the Georgia Military Academy in 1953, and then enrolled as a student at Duke University
for two years before entering into the armed forces. He served in the United States Army
, Specialist Five from 1954 to 1957. He returned to school at Wake Forest University
, earning a degree in accounting, and returning to receive a Juris Doctor
. He was admitted to the North Carolina bar in 1961 and commenced practice in Greensboro, North Carolina
. Johnston practiced tax law from 1967 to 1980. He was employed asa CPA by A.M Pullen & Co. in the early 1960s.
Johnston was elected as a Republican
to the 97th Congress
in the 1980 elections, defeating 12-year incumbent Rich Preyer
by a narrow 4,000-vote margin. He was likely helped by Ronald Reagan
carrying his Greensboro-based district. However, he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1982, losing his bid to Robin Britt.Johnston served as North Carolina Chairman for the Reagan/Bush reelection Committee in 1984 and a delegate to the Republican National Convention. Afterward, he became chairman of the board of a commercial printing company in Greensboro and chairman of Pace Communications a large commercial publisher. Johnston was an unsuccessful candidate in 1992 for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate
. He currently is retired from politics and resides in Greensboro and St. Petersburg , Florida. He has three sons and one daughter and many Grandchildren. One grandson, William Johnston, is an Eagle Scout. The first Eagle Scout in the Johnston family.
In 1992 he was appointed to the Board of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority and subsequently was elected its chairman. In 1996 the authority successfully recruited a Federal Express sorting facility and hub.
Johnston remains an underwriting member of Lloyds of London a position he has held since 1977.
Governor James Martin appointed Johnston to the Adviosry Budget Commission for the State of North Carolina in 1985.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and attended local public schools. He graduated from the Georgia Military Academy in 1953, and then enrolled as a student at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
for two years before entering into the armed forces. He served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, Specialist Five from 1954 to 1957. He returned to school at Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
, earning a degree in accounting, and returning to receive a Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor
Juris Doctor is a professional doctorate and first professional graduate degree in law.The degree was first awarded by Harvard University in the United States in the late 19th century and was created as a modern version of the old European doctor of law degree Juris Doctor (see etymology and...
. He was admitted to the North Carolina bar in 1961 and commenced practice in Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
. Johnston practiced tax law from 1967 to 1980. He was employed asa CPA by A.M Pullen & Co. in the early 1960s.
Johnston was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to the 97th Congress
97th United States Congress
The Ninety-seventh United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, composed of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, DC from January 3, 1981 to January 3, 1983, during the final weeks of...
in the 1980 elections, defeating 12-year incumbent Rich Preyer
L. Richardson Preyer
Lunsford Richardson Preyer , who typically went by 'Richardson' or 'Rich,' was a jurist and a U.S. representative in Congress from North Carolina. He was the grandson of inventor Lunsford Richardson...
by a narrow 4,000-vote margin. He was likely helped by Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
carrying his Greensboro-based district. However, he was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1982, losing his bid to Robin Britt.Johnston served as North Carolina Chairman for the Reagan/Bush reelection Committee in 1984 and a delegate to the Republican National Convention. Afterward, he became chairman of the board of a commercial printing company in Greensboro and chairman of Pace Communications a large commercial publisher. Johnston was an unsuccessful candidate in 1992 for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
. He currently is retired from politics and resides in Greensboro and St. Petersburg , Florida. He has three sons and one daughter and many Grandchildren. One grandson, William Johnston, is an Eagle Scout. The first Eagle Scout in the Johnston family.
In 1992 he was appointed to the Board of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority and subsequently was elected its chairman. In 1996 the authority successfully recruited a Federal Express sorting facility and hub.
Johnston remains an underwriting member of Lloyds of London a position he has held since 1977.
Governor James Martin appointed Johnston to the Adviosry Budget Commission for the State of North Carolina in 1985.