Senator Owen H. Johnson

Senator Owen H. Johnson, on December 24, 2014. Beloved husband of Christel. Loving father of Owen H.R. Johnson and Chirsten R.E. Tymann and her husband Danny. Cherished grandfather of Eliza and Scarlett. Dear brother of Herbert Johnson, Sigrid Lanigan and John Johnson. New York State Senator from 1972-2012. "if you do what you think is right, you can't go wrong"

NEW YORK STATE SENATOR OWEN H. JOHNSON

(Fourth Senate District, Suffolk County, New York)

Owen H. Johnson, Republican and resident of the Town of Babylon, was first elected to the Senate in 1972 and represented the Fourth Senate District, which encompasses portions of the Towns of Babylon and Islip in Suffolk County. He attended West Babylon Grade School and Babylon High School. After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Marine Corps, he attended and was graduated from Hofstra College in 1956 with a B.A. degree in History-Political Science. In December, 1998, Senator Johnson was the distinguished recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Hofstra University.

In 2003, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno appointed Senator Johnson the Chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee. In this key leadership position, Senator Johnson had the lead role in reviewing the Governor's budget proposal and developing the Senate Majority Conference's priorities for the state budget. As Finance Committee Chairman, he also served as a member of the New York State Public Authorities Control Board and was Co-Chairman of the Legislative Audit Committee.

Additionally, Senator Johnson was Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on the Long Island Marine District; a Commissioner of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission; and Vice-Chair of the Legislative Commission on Government Administration.

During Senator Johnson's distinguished career in the Senate, he chaired the committees on Transportation, Environmental Conservation, Social Services and Civil Service and Pensions.

On the National level, Senator Johnson was Past National Chairman and served as a National Director of the American Legislative Exchange Council -- the Nation's largest individual membership organization of state legislators. In 1995, he was the first recipient of ALEC's "Lifetime Leadership Award," which was created to recognize those members who helped shape the organization.

The Senator was a member of Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Babylon. He was married and resided with his wife Christel, in West Babylon. They have two children -- a son, Owen, and daughter, Chirsten.