Walter Walford Johnson

Walter Walford Johnson (April 16, 1904 – March 23, 1987) was an American businessman and Democratic politician who served as the 32nd governor of the state of Colorado from 1950 to 1951. He was the first governor of Colorado to have been born in the 20th century.

Walter Walfred Johnson was born in Pueblo, Colorado on April 16, 1904. He married Neva Morrow in 1922. The couple had two children, Winnifred and Walfred. Johnson developed real estate and insurance businesses in Pueblo.

In 1940, Johnson was elected to the Colorado State Senate. In 1948, he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Colorado. In April 1950, Colorado Governor William Lee Knous resigned to become a federal district judge in Denver. Johnson succeeded Knous as governor and completed the remaining nine months of Knous' term. Johnson ran unsuccessfully against Republican Dan Thornton for a full gubernatorial term in 1950.

In 1970, Johnson retired to Tempe, Arizona. He died there after a brief illness on March 23, 1987, 24 days short of his 83rd birthday, and is buried at Pueblo.