In American history, there are many fine instances of talented teachers who have left the classroom to become very fine legislators. One example of this is John Matthew Zwach, Sr., a rural teacher from Minnesota who also served in the US House of Representatives.

John was born on February 8, 1907, in Gales Township, Redwood County, Minnesota, the son of immigrants from Austria. As a boy, he attended public schools, graduating from Milroy High School in 1926.

In 1927, John earned his teaching credential from Mankato State College, now known as Minnesota State University, Mankato, although he didn’t earn his Bachelor’s degree until 1933. After his college graduation, John devoted fourteen years of his life as a teacher in a rural school and as a principal. He was also a farmer during this period, and was a member of his local Farm Bureau, the National Farm Organization, and the Farmers Union.

From 1934 to 1946, John served in the Minnesota House of Representatives. From 1946 to 1966, he served in the Minnesota State Senate, serving as majority leader from 1959 to 1966. While in the State Senate, he served on three committees: the Committees for Education, Public Highways, and Agriculture. He wrote many bills related to agricultural interests, and he was the chief author of the bill to establish Southwest Minnesota State University. John continued this work when he was elected to the US Congress on the Republican ticket. He served in this role from 1967 to 1975, a total of four terms.

After John retired from Congress, the former teacher made his home in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. Sadly, he passed away from lung cancer on November 11, 1990, and was buried in St. Michael’s Cemetery. To learn more about this political chalkboard champion, see the link for 

Sallie Cook Booker

Many gifted educators also distinguish themselves in the field of politics. One individual that proves this to be true is Sallie Catherine Cook Booker, a public schoolteacher who became the third woman to be elected to the Virginia House of Delegates.

Sallie was born on a farm near Snow Creek, Franklin County, Virginia, on August 28, 1857. Her given name was Sarah, but all her life she was known as “Sallie.” Interestingly, she is a direct descendant of author Mark Twain.

Sallie began her career as a schoolteacher when she was only sixteen years old. Later, the young educator attended Piedmont Institute for Young Ladies in Franklin County to complete her preparation for teaching in public schools. Over the years, she also attended several summer normal institutes to improve her professional skills. In 1877, Sallie married Jesse Wootten Booker, a prominent businessman from Martinsville, Henry County, Virginia. Jesse was a Civil War veteran who fought on the Confederate side. Shortly after her marriage, Sallie resumed her teaching career in one-room country schools in Henry County. In all, Sallie dedicated 25 years to the profession.

Once Sallie retired from teaching, she became active in local politics, becoming a member of both the Fifth District Congressional Committee and the Democratic Executive Committee. In 1926, she decided to make a bid for a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. She ran on the Democratic ticket. It was an election she won easily because she was unopposed. But when she ran for re-election in the 1928 special election, Sallie was challenged by Republican candidate R.L. Stone, who used the campaign slogan, “Membership in the General Assembly is a man’s job.” At one candidates’ debate appearance, Stone reportedly asserted, “You can’t elect Mrs. Booker again. Why? She’s an old woman.” To this she replied by removing her hat, standing, and declaring, “Your hair is a lot whiter than mine.” Sallie won the election.

During her term of office, Sallie served on the Committee on Schools and Colleges; the Committee on Counties, Cities, and Towns; the Committee on Retrenchment and Economy; and on the Library Committee. After two terms in office, Sallie decided to retire from politics in order to stay home and nurse her sick husband, who passed away in September, 1935.

Sallie died from natural causes on December 20, 1944, at the age of 87, and was buried in the family plot at Oakwood Cemetery in Martinsville. To learn more about this amazing educator and politician, see the Dictionary of Virginia Biography.

Many proficient classroom teachers are also quite adept as politicians, a fact that is confirmed by the distinguished career of Martin R. Bradley. Martin was a classroom teacher who was elected to five terms to the Michigan State House of Representatives.

Martin was born in Newberry, Luce County, Michigan, on April 1, 1888, the son of Robert and Josephine (Johnson) Bradley. When he was a young boy, his family moved to Huron County. When he grew to manhood, Martin enrolled first at the Ferris Institute in Big Rapids, Mecosta County, Michigan, and then at Central State Teachers College in Mount Pleasant, Isabella County, Michigan.

After his college graduation, Martin returned to Huron County, where he had accepted a position as a school teacher in rural schools. In 1910, he moved to Hermansville, Menominee County, where the experienced educator served as the Superintendent of Schools. Martin remained in that position until 1914. After he concluded his stint as the superintendent, Martin worked for a time in the insurance industry, and then, from 1914 to 1923, as the postmaster for Hermansville.

In 1922, the former teacher began his distinguished political career. He served an impressive five terms as a member of the Michigan State House of Representatives. He was first elected for one term in 1922, and then was re-elected to four successive terms beginning in 1926. In addition, he was selected by his peers as the Speaker of the House for the 1933-1934 session, the first representative from the Upper Peninsula to be so honored. In 1932, Martin became a delegate to that year’s Democratic National Convention, the historic convention that nominated Franklin D. Roosevelt for President of the United States.

In 1935, when Martin’s final term was completed, he was appointed Collector of Customs, a position which required that he move to the Detroit area. Martin held this position until his retirement in 1953.

Sadly, Martin passed away in Leavenworth, Washington, on December 21, 1975, at the age of 88. For more about this accomplished teacher and politician, see the website for the University of Michigan’s Bentley Historical Library.