Jay W. Johnson

Jay W. Johnson (September 30, 1943 – October 17, 2009) was the director of the United States Mint, Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Wisconsin, and a former television news anchor in the Green Bay area.

Johnson was born in Bessemer, Michigan. He graduated from Gogebic Community College in 1963 and Northern Michigan University in 1965. Johnson was an information specialist with the United States Army from 1966 until 1968. He was on the board of directors of the Wisconsin United Way. Johnson received a master's degree from Michigan State University in 1970.

Journalist
He was a broadcaster and journalist working in Michigan, Indiana, Florida and for 16 years in Green Bay, Wisconsin for WFRV (Channel 5), then WLUK (Channel 11) from 1981 until 1996. He worked for two years as celebrated anchorman and reporter at Scripps Howard NBC affiliate, WPTV Channel 5/West Palm Beach, Florida[circa 1973-4].

Politician
In 1996, Johnson was elected to the 105th Congress from Wisconsin's 8th congressional district after 18-year incumbent Toby Roth retired. He was only the fourth Democrat to represent the district in the 20th century. He was defeated after only one term by State Assemblyman Mark Green in 1998. From 2000 to 2001 he was the 36th Director of the United States Mint. After leaving the U.S. Mint, he was self-employed, selling wholesale coins and also the Chief Numismatist for The Franklin Mint.

On June 29, 2009, Goldline International, Inc. announced that Johnson had become a spokesperson for their company.

On October 17, 2009, Johnson died at his home in Bristow, Virginia, in suburban Washington, D.C., after collapsing of an apparent heart attack.