Rob Ecklund tweeted out, “Doug Johnson was a powerful and influential voice for Northern Minnesota. There’s a fund named for him at Iron Range Resources. He held Senate District 6, before Senator Tom Bakk.Īccording to the Minnesota Legislative resources, he was first elected in 1970, and was a high school guidance counselor at the time. He served as a representative first, before moving on to the senate, serving until 2002.

Var js, fjs = d.A longtime political powerhouse for the DFL and the Iron Range has died.ĭoug Johnson served in both houses of the Minnesota legislature. Here are some of the tributes to Johnson that were posted on social media by his colleagues. VIDEO: Johnson signs off Colleagues remember Johnson “I can only give you back one thing, and that’s a wish that every day, for the rest of your life, you have that perfect combination of sunshine and widely scattered showers,” Johnson said. In 1994, Johnson signed off from broadcasting with a thank-you and a fond farewell to viewers. In addition to his television duties, Johnson also hosted a talk show on KPRC’s radio station for several years. While there was the lighter side to his job, Johnson guided Houstonians through some of the worst natural disasters the city has ever experienced. VIDEO: A look back at the career of Doug Johnson Johnson was bitten when he went to retrieve the fowl from her roost. Instead of pecking on the rain cloud or sun, Wilma took flight and landed on top of a camera. In a segment that became the stuff of television lore, Johnson employed a chicken to help him tell the weather, but Wilma the Weather Chicken had her own ideas of what to do on television. “There was no pretense with them,” Bryant said. The personality-driven newscast featured stories that were on the lighter side of news and finished with a chat segment that showcased the pair’s innate ability to connect with people.

“It had humor in a place that you wouldn’t normally find humor,” Bryant said. That chemistry is what made the newscast so enjoyable, according to Bruce Bryant, who directed the show. His rapport and friendship with Stone was apparent to anyone who watched the duo. He became a household name while co-anchoring the 'Scene at 5' newscast with Ron Stone. He joined Houston’s first television station in 1962.

During his time in Alaska, Johnson got his start in broadcasting when he took a job at a radio station. He attended Reagan High School, Texas Christian University and schools in Alaska. He was 79.Ī fifth-generation Texan, Johnson was born in the Heights neighborhood. HOUSTON – Longtime KPRC2 weatherman Doug Johnson died Thursday.

Ocean Snow by Doug Johnson