John Buckner (Colorado politician)

John William Buckner was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on September 12, 1947, to Robert G. Buckner Jr. and Rachel D. Hardrick. He graduated from Shortridge High School in 1965. He graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Arts in education in 1969. Buckner met his wife Janet Buckner, with whom he had three children, at Ball State University and married her on August 16, 1969.^[1][2]

The couple moved to Elgin, Illinois. Buckner then worked in the Cherry Creek School District for thirty-three years. In 1975, he became an assistant principal at Laredo Middle School and later worked as assistant principal at Smoky Hill High School and Prairie Middle School. From 1988 to 2005, he worked as the principal at Overland High School.^[2][1]

Buckner was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives after defeating incumbent Republican Representative Cindy Acree in the 2012 election.^[3][4] Acree had been redrawn into a more Democratic district after having easily won in the 2008 election and facing no Democratic opponent in the 2010 election.^[5] He won reelection after defeating Republican nominee Julie Marie A. Shepherd and Libertarian nominee Geoff Hierholz.^[6][7]

He was the first black person to represent the 40th district in the state house and served as vice-chair of the Black Caucus. Buckner also served as the chair of the Education committee.^[8]

Bucker took a leave of absence from the Colorado General Assembly in April 2015 due to health concerns. He died on May 28, from sarcoidosis in Aurora, Colorado.^[1][9] His name was added to the Emily Maureen Ellen Keyes and John W. Buckner Organ and Tissue Donation Awareness Fund permanently by the state house.^[10] Buckner's wife was selected unanimously by a vacancy committee of Arapahoe County House Democrats on June 25, to fill his seat and took office on July 15.^[11] Janet was reelected to the state house in 2016 and 2018, and later became the Speaker pro tempore.^[12][13]