Representative Walter Eugene Johnston

Walter Eugene Johnston III (March 3, 1936 – March 28, 2018), usually known as Gene Johnston, was an American politician and attorney who served as a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from North Carolina between 1981 and 1983. A member of the Republican Party, he represented a Greensboro-based district for one term in the 97th Congress, contributing to the legislative process during a significant period in American political history and participating in the democratic process on behalf of his constituents.

Johnston was born on March 3, 1936, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he attended local public schools. He continued his secondary education at the Georgia Military Academy, from which he graduated in 1953. Following his graduation, he enrolled at Duke University and studied there for one year before deciding to enter the armed forces. His early life in North Carolina and his military school training provided the foundation for a career that would combine military service, professional expertise in law and accounting, and public office.

In 1954, Johnston entered the United States Army, where he served on active duty until 1957, attaining the rank of Specialist Five. After completing his military service, he returned to North Carolina to pursue higher education. He enrolled at Wake Forest University, where he earned a degree in accounting and later returned to obtain a Juris Doctor. Johnston was admitted to the North Carolina bar in 1961 and commenced the practice of law in Greensboro, North Carolina. In the early 1960s, he was employed as a certified public accountant by A.M. Pullen & Co., and from 1967 to 1980 he practiced tax law, building a reputation in the fields of taxation and business-related legal matters.

Johnston’s professional success and Republican affiliation led him into electoral politics. In the 1980 elections, he ran as a Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives and was elected to the 97th Congress, serving from 1981 to 1983. He defeated twelve-year Democratic incumbent Richardson Preyer by a narrow margin of approximately 4,000 votes, a victory widely attributed in part to the strong performance of Ronald Reagan in his Greensboro-based district during the presidential election. During his single term in Congress, Johnston participated in the legislative process at a time of significant national policy shifts in economic, defense, and social issues, representing the interests of his North Carolina constituents in the House of Representatives.

Johnston sought reelection in 1982 but was unsuccessful, losing his bid for a second term to Democrat Robin Britt. Although his service in Congress was limited to one term, he remained active in Republican politics and public affairs. In 1984, he served as North Carolina Chairman for the Reagan/Bush reelection committee and was a delegate to the Republican National Convention, reflecting his continued influence within the state party. Governor James Martin later appointed him to the Advisory Budget Commission for the State of North Carolina in 1985, and also appointed him to the Global Transpark Authority, where he contributed to statewide economic and infrastructure planning.

After leaving Congress, Johnston pursued a range of business and civic leadership roles. He became chairman of the board of a commercial printing company in Greensboro and later served as chairman of Pace Communications, a large commercial publishing firm. In 1992, he was appointed to the Board of the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority and was subsequently elected its chairman. Under the authority’s leadership during his tenure, the airport successfully recruited a Federal Express sorting facility and hub in 1996, a major regional economic development achievement. In the same year, 1992, Johnston also sought higher office as a candidate for the Republican nomination for the United States Senate, though he was unsuccessful in securing the nomination.

Beyond his formal public offices, Johnston maintained significant business and financial interests. He became an underwriting member of Lloyd’s of London in 1977, a position he continued to hold for decades, underscoring his long-standing engagement with international insurance and financial markets. Over time, he gradually retired from active politics, dividing his residence between Greensboro, North Carolina, and St. Petersburg, Florida, while remaining involved in business, civic, and party activities.

Johnston was married and had three sons and one daughter, as well as many grandchildren. He died from congestive heart failure on March 28, 2018, at the age of 82. His death marked the close of a career that spanned military service, law, accounting, business leadership, and a term in the United States Congress representing North Carolina.