Robert A. Young | |
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| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromMissouri's2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1987 | |
| Preceded by | James W. Symington |
| Succeeded by | Jack Buechner |
| Member of theMissouri Senate | |
| In office 1962-1976 | |
| Member of theMissouri House of Representatives | |
| In office 1956-1962 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1923-11-27)November 27, 1923 |
| Died | October 17, 2007(2007-10-17) (aged 83) St. Ann, Missouri, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Irene Slawson |
Robert Anton Young III (November 27, 1923 – October 17, 2007) was aDemocraticpolitician from the state ofMissouri who served five terms in theUS House of Representatives.
Young was the oldest child in a family that grew to include nine children. He was educated in parochial schools inSt. Louis County. He attendedMcBride High School and graduated fromNormandy High School in 1941.
He married Irene Slawson on November 27, 1947, and they were married for fifty years, until her death in 1997. Their family includes three children, Anne, Peggy, and Robert. Nine grandchildren, Matthew, Kevin, Katie, Jason, Megan, Robert, John, Blake, and Teresa, and ten great-grandchildren, Robert, Chelsie, Morgan, Kennedy, Kendall, Cydney, Tegan, Cameron, and Kaiden. Young was a unionpipefitter by trade, a member of Pipefitters and Plumbers Local 562, AFL-CIO, St. Louis, until his election to Congress in 1976.
Young served in theU.S. Army from February 1943 to November 1945. His unit landed "under fire" onUtah Beach, onD-Day, June 6, 1944. He then served in GeneralGeorge Patton's 3rd Army in theBattle of the Bulge. He was awarded theBronze Star for valor in combat, the African-European Campaign Medal with Five Battlestars, theCombat Infantryman Badge, and the French Croix-de-Guerre with Palm for D-Day.
Young's long political career began in 1952 with his election as DemocraticCommitteeman for Airport Township in St. Louis County, an office he held until 1977. He was elected to theMissouri House of Representatives in 1956 and served there for 6 years. In 1962, he was elected to theMissouri Senate, and served for 14 years.
During his years in the State Legislature, Young supported legislation that created the St. LouisJunior College District and helped establish theUniversity of Missouri–St. Louis. TheSt. Louis Globe-Democrat awarded him its Award for Meritious Service to his state three times, 1972, 1974, and 1976.
In 1976, Young was elected to theUnited States House of Representatives representing the Second Congressional District of Missouri. As a member of Congress, he served on several key committees includingPublic Works and Transportation, Aviation, Water Resources, andScience and Technology.
Young was reelected without serious difficulty in 1978 and 1980. However, after the 1980 census, Young's district was significantly altered as a result of Missouri losing a congressional district. He lost his share of St. Louis, and was instead pushed into more conservative territory to the west. Although he took 56 percent in 1982, he was nearly defeated byRepublican State RepresentativeJack Buechner in 1984 asRonald Reagan took almost 60 percent of the vote in his district. Young faced Buechner again in 1986, and this time lost by 7,400 votes.
Young was a strong proponent ofpublic works projects to benefit his district and the state of Missouri. The St. Louis Construction News and Review and Pride, Inc. named Young "Construction Industry Man of the Year" in 1981. Among the projects he supported were landscaping theGateway Arch, renovation of the Old Post Office, the creation of thelight-rail mass transit MetroLink system, the construction of theThomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse, the expansion ofLambert Airport, and the newLock and Dam 26 atAlton, Illinois.
After his retirement from public office, Young remained active and involved in community affairs. He was a life member of Amvets, VFW, and was an active member of American Legion Post 338 inOverland, Missouri. He also served on the Board of the James S. McDonnell USO and was a member of the St. Louis Airport Commission.
In 1988, PresidentRonald Reagan designated the federal building in downtown St. Louis as theRobert A. Young Federal Building in Young's honor. Originally named the St. Louis Mart and Terminal Warehouse, theArt Deco building at 1222 Spruce Street was designed byPreston J. Bradshaw and completed in 1933. The building was transferred to the United States Army in 1941. In 1961 it was acquired by the General Services Administration and used to accommodate federal agency offices. It is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.[1]
Other awards and honors Young has received include the following:
Young died on October 17, 2007, due to liver disease.
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives fromMissouri's 2nd congressional district 1977–1987 | Succeeded by |
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| People | |
