Beth Johnson (politician)

Beth Johnson
Member of the Florida Senate from the 19th district
In office 1962–1967
Preceded by	John A. Sutton
Succeeded by	C.W. Bill Young
Member of the Florida House of Representatives from Orange County
In office 1959–1962
Preceded by	John A. Sutton
Succeeded by	Robert H. Elrod
Personal details
Born	1909 Pennsylvania, United States
Died	1973 (aged 63–64) Florida, United States
Political party	Democratic
Occupation	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]}

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:

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