William Lacy Clay Sr (born April 30, 1931) is an American politician from Missouri. As Congressman from Missouri's first district, he represented portions of St. Louis in the U.S. House of Representatives for 32 years.
Clay was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Luella S. (Hyatt) and Irving Charles Clay.[1] He graduated from Saint Louis University in 1953. Clay served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955, and he was a St. Louis alderman from 1959 to 1964. Clay served 105 days in jail for participating in a civil rights demonstration in 1963. Prior to entering Congress, Clay held jobs first as a real estate broker and later as a labor coordinator. He worked for the union of St. Louis city employees from 1961 to 1964 and then with a steamfitters union local until 1967.[citation needed]
Clay married Carol Ann Johnson in 1953. They had three children, including William Lacy Clay Jr., who would succeed his father in the U.S. House.[2][3] The Clay family were parishioners at the predominantly Black St. Nicholas’ Catholic Church in St. Louis.
Clay was elected to the House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1968. He became an advocate for environmentalism, labor issues, and social justice. In 1993, Clay voted for the Family and Medical Leave Act. From 1991 until the Democrats lost control of Congress in 1995, Clay chaired the House Committee on the Post Office and Civil Service. In 2000, he retired from the House and his son, Lacy, succeeded him.
Honors
In 1996, the William L. Clay Center for Molecular Electronics (now the Center for Nanoscience) was dedicated in his honor on the campus of the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
Clay is also the founder of the William L. Clay Scholarship and Research Fund, which awards college scholarships to high school seniors living in Missouri's first congressional district. The Fund, which is a 501(c)3 organization, has awarded scholarships since 1985.
^"Clay, William Lacy 1931–". Contemporary Black Biography. Encyclopedia.com. 2005. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
^"CLAY, William Lacy, Sr". United States House of Representatives Office of the Historian. Retrieved August 5, 2018.
^"St. Louis bridge renamed for long-time congressman : Stltoday". www.stltoday.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
^St. Louis Walk of Fame. . stlouiswalkoffame.org. Archived from the original on 31 October 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
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For other people with similar names see William Clay This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately especially if potentially libelous or harmful Find sources Bill Clay news newspapers books scholar JSTOR March 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message William Lacy Clay Sr born April 30 1931 is an American politician from Missouri As Congressman from Missouri s first district he represented portions of St Louis in the U S House of Representatives for 32 years Bill ClayMember of the U S House of Representatives from Missouri s 1st districtIn office January 3 1969 January 3 2001Preceded byFrank M KarstenSucceeded byLacy ClayPersonal detailsBornWilliam Lacy Clay 1931 04 30 April 30 1931 age 91 St Louis Missouri U S Political partyDemocraticSpouseCarol Johnson m 1953 wbr Children3 including LacyEducationSaint Louis University BS Contents 1 Early life and family 2 Politics 3 Honors 4 Works 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksEarly life and family EditClay was born in St Louis Missouri the son of Luella S Hyatt and Irving Charles Clay 1 He graduated from Saint Louis University in 1953 Clay served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955 and he was a St Louis alderman from 1959 to 1964 Clay served 105 days in jail for participating in a civil rights demonstration in 1963 Prior to entering Congress Clay held jobs first as a real estate broker and later as a labor coordinator He worked for the union of St Louis city employees from 1961 to 1964 and then with a steamfitters union local until 1967 citation needed Clay married Carol Ann Johnson in 1953 They had three children including William Lacy Clay Jr who would succeed his father in the U S House 2 3 The Clay family were parishioners at the predominantly Black St Nicholas Catholic Church in St Louis Politics EditThis section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately Find sources Bill Clay news newspapers books scholar JSTOR February 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Clay was elected to the House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1968 He became an advocate for environmentalism labor issues and social justice In 1993 Clay voted for the Family and Medical Leave Act From 1991 until the Democrats lost control of Congress in 1995 Clay chaired the House Committee on the Post Office and Civil Service In 2000 he retired from the House and his son Lacy succeeded him Honors EditIn 1996 the William L Clay Center for Molecular Electronics now the Center for Nanoscience was dedicated in his honor on the campus of the University of Missouri St Louis Clay is also the founder of the William L Clay Scholarship and Research Fund which awards college scholarships to high school seniors living in Missouri s first congressional district The Fund which is a 501 c 3 organization has awarded scholarships since 1985 Poplar Street Bridge which connects St Louis Missouri and East St Louis Illinois was renamed on October 7 2013 Congressman William L Clay Bridge 4 William L Clay has a star and biographical plaque on the St Louis Walk of Fame 5 Works EditClay has written several works of non fiction To Kill or Not to Kill Thoughts on Capital Punishment 1990 ISBN 0 89370 331 1 Just Permanent Interests Black Americans in Congress 1870 1991 1992 ISBN 1 56743 000 7 Racism in the White House A Common Practice of Most United States Presidents 2002 ISBN 0 88258 206 2 Bill Clay A Political Voice at the Grass Roots 2004 ISBN 1 883982 52 9 Designed by Steve Hartman of Creativille Inc Creativille Inc Be Simple Be Passionate Be Creative The Jefferson Bank Confrontation 2008 ISBN 0 944514 34 0See also Edit Biography portalList of African American United States representativesReferences Edit Lacy Clay ancestry freepages rootsweb com Clay William Lacy 1931 Contemporary Black Biography Encyclopedia com 2005 Retrieved August 5 2018 CLAY William Lacy Sr United States House of Representatives Office of the Historian Retrieved August 5 2018 St Louis bridge renamed for long time congressman Stltoday www stltoday com Archived from the original on 13 October 2013 Retrieved 26 January 2022 St Louis Walk of Fame St Louis Walk of Fame Inductees stlouiswalkoffame org Archived from the original on 31 October 2012 Retrieved 25 April 2013 External links EditBiographic sketch at U S Congress website The History Makers The William L Clay Scholarship and Research Fund Appearances on C SPANU S House of RepresentativesPreceded byFrank M Karsten Member of the U S House of Representativesfrom Missouri s 1st congressional district1969 2001 Succeeded byLacy ClayPreceded byWilliam D Ford Chair of House Civil Service Committee1991 1995 Position abolishedU S order of precedence ceremonial Preceded byJim Cooperas Former US Representative Order of precedence of the United Statesas Former US Representative Succeeded byLamar Smithas Former US Representative Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bill Clay amp oldid 1134670251, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
