Sam Johnson

Sam Johnson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 3rd district
In office May 8, 1991 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Steve Bartlett
Succeeded by	Van Taylor
Acting Chair of the House Ways and Means Committee
In office October 29, 2015 – November 5, 2015
Preceded by	Paul Ryan
Succeeded by	Kevin Brady
Member of the Texas House of Representatives from the 60th district
In office January 8, 1985 – May 21, 1991
Preceded by	Frank Eikenburg
Succeeded by	Brian McCall
Personal details
Born	Samuel Robert Johnson (1930-10-11)October 11, 1930 San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
Died	May 27, 2020(2020-05-27) (aged 89) Plano, Texas, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Shirley Melton ​ ​ (m. 1950; died 2015)​
Children	3
Education	Southern Methodist University (BBA) George Washington University (MS)
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Air Force
Years of service	1950–1979
Rank	Colonel
Unit	51st Fighter Interceptor Wing 8th Tactical Fighter Wing
Commands	31st Tactical Fighter Wing
Battles/wars	Korean War Vietnam War
Awards	Silver Star (2) Legion of Merit (3) Distinguished Flying Cross Bronze Star Medal with valor Purple Heart (2)
Sam Johnson's voice Sam Johnson highlights outstanding teachers in his home district Recorded May 7, 2002

Samuel Robert Johnson (October 11, 1930 – May 27, 2020) was an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 3rd congressional district in Congress from 1991 to 2019. He was a member of the Republican Party. In October and November 2015, he was the acting Chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means, where he also served as chairman of the Social Security Subcommittee.

Johnson was also a United States Air Force colonel and was a decorated fighter pilot in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War where in the latter he was an American prisoner of war in North Vietnam for nearly seven years. On January 6, 2017, Johnson announced he would not run for reelection in 2018.^[1][2] After the death of Louise Slaughter in March 2018, he became the oldest sitting member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He was the last Korean War veteran to serve in Congress.^[3]