{{Short description|American politician (1920–2009)}} {{use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Lowell Johnson | office = Member of the Nebraska Public Service Commission from the 3rd district | term_start = January 5, 1995 | term_end = January 4, 2007 | predecessor = Duane Gay | successor = Tim Schram | office1 = Member of the Nebraska Legislature from the 15th district | term_start1 = January 7, 1981 | term_end1 = January 6, 1993 | predecessor1 = Barry Reutzel | successor1 = Ray Janssen | birth_date = {{birth date|1920|6|12}} | birth_place = Dodge County, Nebraska | death_date = {{death date and age|2009|9|1|1920|6|12}} | death_place = Fremont, Nebraska | education = University of Nebraska (B.S.) | party = Republican | spouse = {{marriage|Ruth Marion Sloss|1943|1992|end=d.}} | children = 4 (Mark, Kent, James, Nancy) | occupation = Engineer }}

'''Lowell C. Johnson''' (June 12, 1920{{spaced ndash}}September 1, 2009) was a Republican politician from Nebraska who served as a member of the Nebraska Public Service Commission from the 3rd district from 1995 to 2007. Johnson previously served in the Nebraska Legislature from the 15th district from 1981 to 1993.

==Early career== Johnson was born in Dodge County and graduated from North Bend High School in North Bend in 1937.<ref name="blue book">{{cite book|title=Nebraska Blue Book 2004-05|editor-last1=Washburn|editor-first1=Ashley D.|publisher=Clerk of the Nebraska Legislature|date=2005|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/l3000/D001-200405.pdf|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref> He attended the University of Nebraska and graduated with his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1942.<ref name="blue book"/> Johnson served in the United States Navy during World War II.<ref name="blue book"/> He worked as an engineer for the Phillips Petroleum Company and as a plant manager for Watson Industries, and as a field representative for Republican Congressman Charles Thone prior to his election as Governor.<ref name="blue book"/>

==Nebraska Legislature== In 1980, Johnson ran for the Nebraska Legislature in the 15th district, which was based in Dodge County, against incumbent senator Barry Reutzel.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lowell Johnson files for Unicameral race|newspaper=Fremont Tribune|date=February 8, 1980|location=|page=A3|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune/192742665/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref> Reutzel placed first in the primary over Johnson, winning 55–45 percent.<ref name="1980 results">{{cite book|title=Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 13, 1980, General Election, November 4, 1980|last=Beermann|first=Allen J.|publisher=Nebraska Secretary of State|year=1980|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1980prim_gen.pdf|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref> In a "major upset," Johnson defeated Reutzel by a wide margin in the general election,<ref>{{cite news|last=Partsch|first=Frank|title=Reagan Coattails Seen in Races|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=November 5, 1980|location=|page=37|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/192743424/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref> receiving 57 percent of the vote to Reutzel's 43 percent.<ref name="1980 results"/> Though the race was formally nonpartisan, Reutzel was a Democrat and Johnson was a Republican, and the Nebraska Republican Party invested resources in the district to support Johnson.<ref>{{cite news|last=Collison|first=Kevin|title=Johnson says oragnization key to victory|newspaper=Fremont Tribune|date=November 5, 1980|location=|page=A1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune/192743586/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Thompson|first=David|title=Defeat of Incumbent Senators Was Unmatched in 30 Years|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=November 6, 1980|location=|page=10|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/192743279/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref>

Johnson ran for re-election in 1984, and was unopposed in the primary election.<ref name="1984 results">{{cite book|title=Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 15, 1984, General Election, November 6, 1984|last=Beermann|first=Allen J.|publisher=Nebraska Secretary of State|year=1984|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1984prim_gen.pdf|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref> However, after the primary election, Judy Larsen, a farmer and substitute teacher,<ref>{{cite news|last=Whitesides|first=John|title=Liberals May Gain in Legislature|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=November 7, 1984|location=|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/192743812/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref> successfully petitioned to appear on the ballot and challenged Johnson.<ref>{{cite news|title=Hooper's Judy larsen Files for Legislature|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=July 26, 1984|location=|page=60|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/192743788/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref> Johnson ultimately defeated Larsen, winning 53 percent of the vote to her 47 percent.<ref name="1984 results"/>

He was elected to a third term unopposed in 1988,<ref>{{cite news|title=Johnson is unopposed|newspaper=Fremont Tribune|date=October 28, 1988|location=|page=C2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune/192744167/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref> and declined to seek a fourth term in 1992.<ref>{{cite news|last=Frykberg|first=Dru|title=North Bend senator won't seek 4th term|newspaper=Fremont Tribune|date=February 12, 1992|location=|page=A1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/fremont-tribune/192744242/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref>

==Nebraska Public Service Commission== In 1994, Johnson announced that he would run for the Nebraska Public Service Commission from the 3rd district, which included most of northeastern Nebraska following redistricting. Incumbent commissioner Duane Gay was drawn into a neighboring district and declined to seek another term.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lowell Johnson hopes to add common name to PSC roster|newspaper=Lincoln Star|date=September 18, 1993|location=|page=15|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lincoln-star/192744652/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref> He faced former State Senator Gerald Conway and truck driver Ted Bailey in the Republican primary,<ref>{{cite news|last=Hammel|first=Paul|title=Ex-Senators Say PSC No Retirement Job|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=April 29, 1994|location=|page=16|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/192744751/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref> and won by a wide margin, receiving 49 percent of the vote to Conway's 31 percent and Bailey's 20 percent.<ref name="1994 results">{{cite book|title=Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 10, 1994, General Election, November 8, 1994|last=Beermann|first=Allen J.|publisher=Nebraska Secretary of State|year=1994|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-1994prim_gen.pdf|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref> Johnson faced Democratic nominee Willie Buchholz, a warehouse examiner who worked for the commission, in the general election.<ref>{{cite news|last=Powell|first=Joy|title=Four Candidates Make Bid for Two PSC Seats|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=September 14, 1994|location=|page=16|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald/192745003/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref> He defeated Buchholz in a landslide, receiving 66 percent of the vote.<ref name="1994 results"/>

Johnson ran for re-election in 2000, and was challenged in the Republican primary by Dixon County Sheriff Dean Chase.<ref>{{cite news|title=Only 29 percent of county residents cast ballots last week|newspaper=Randolph Times|date=May 17, 2000|location=|page=1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-randolph-times/192745269/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref> He ultimately defeated Chase to win the primary, receiving 59 percent of the vote to Chase's 41 percent.<ref name="2000 results">{{cite book|title=Official Report of the Nebraska State Canvassing Board, Primary Election, May 9, 2000, General Election, November 7, 2000|last=Moore|first=Scott|publisher=Nebraska Secretary of State|year=2000|url=https://govdocs.nebraska.gov/epubs/S1200/S001-2000prim_gen.pdf|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref> In the general election, he was challenged by Democratic nominee Rich Hurley, and won his second term in a landslide with 65 percent of the vote.<ref name="2000 results"/>

In 2006, Johnson announced that he would not seek re-election to a third term.<ref>{{cite news|last=Walton|first=Don|title=Johnson won't seek 3rd term as PSC|newspaper=Lincoln Journal Star|date=January 15, 2006|location=|page=1D|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/lincoln-journal-star/192745508/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref>

==Death== Johnson died on September 1, 2009, in Fremont, Nebraska.<ref>{{cite news|last=Truax|first=Sue Story|title=Lowell Johnson served 12 years in legislature|newspaper=Omaha World-Herald|date=September 3, 2009|location=|page=5B|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/omaha-world-herald-obituary-for-lowell-j/192745571/|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=March 5, 2026}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Lowell}} Category:1920 births Category:2009 deaths Category:Members of the Nebraska Public Service Commission Category:Nebraska state senators Category:People from Dodge County, Nebraska Category:People from Fremont, Nebraska Category:University of Nebraska–Lincoln alumni Category:Nebraska Republicans Category:American engineers Category:21st-century Nebraska politicians Category:20th-century members of the Nebraska Legislature