Paul B. Johnson, Jr.

Paul Burney Johnson, Jr. ( born January 23, 1916 in Hattiesburg, Forrest County, Mississippi, † October 14, 1985 ) was an American politician and 1964-1968 Governor of the State of Mississippi.

Early years and political rise

Paul Johnson was the son of Paul B. Johnson, who had been from 1940 to 1943 governor of Mississippi. He attended the common schools in Forrest County and then studied law at the University of Mississippi. After his made ​​in 1940 admitted to the bar he began in Jackson to work in his new profession. During the Second World War he served as a soldier of the U.S. Marine Corps in the South Pacific. After the war he moved his office from Jackson to Hattiesburg.

Between 1948 and 1951, Johnson was Federal Attorney for the southern part of Mississippi. In addition to his legal practice Johnson was involved in many other companies in Forrest County and was a member of the Democratic Party. In the years 1947, 1951 and 1955, he competed unsuccessfully for his party's nomination for the office of governor. In 1947, he ran unsuccessfully for a seat in also U.S. Senate. From 1960 to 1964 he served as Deputy Governor Deputy Governor Ross Barnett. In this position he was involved in the plans to develop the industry of his state. At that time he was against racial integration and supported Governor Barnett in its unsuccessful attempt to keep African Americans from the University of Mississippi. In 1963 he was elected to Barnett's successor as governor. During the campaign, he took a conservative stance that supported racial segregation.

Governor of Mississippi

Paul Johnson stepped up his new post on January 21, 1964. As Governor, he changed his mind regarding the racial segregation. Even in his inaugural speech, he vowed his countrymen Be prepared to accept the inevitable changes and not hold on to the ideas of the past. Soon the discriminatory for the African American electoral laws were changed. In Mississippi, thus began the true slow but steady way for racial integration. In the four years of his governorship of the state of Mississippi flourished economically. First time, more people were employed in industry than in agriculture. The shipyards of the state received lucrative contracts for shipbuilding. At the end of his tenure, Governor Johnson was able to announce that under his leadership created more than 38,000 jobs and more than 500 companies were either re-founded or expanded. Governor Johnson was also chairman of the Interstate Oil Compact Commission and board member of the National Governors Association.

According to the Office

After the expiration of his term of office on January 21, 1968 Johnson was working as a lawyer again. He entertained both in Jackson and Hattiesburg firms. Since the late 1970s, the former governor struggled with health problems after a stroke. He died in 1985 and was buried in his hometown of Hattiesburg. With his wife, Dorothy E. Power Paul Johnson had four children. The Paul B. Johnson State Park in Hattiesburg is named after him.