Robert A. Young III, 83, former U.S. Rep from MO. dies
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Robert A. Young III, a bricks-and-mortar congressman from St. Louis
County and namesake of a federal office building downtown, died
Wednesday of liver disease at The Hallmark of Creve Coeur nursing
home. He was 83 and lived in Maryland Heights.
Mr. Young, a Democrat, represented the 2nd Congressional District from
1977 to 1987. He worked to help bring home federal money for Lambert
Field, Interstate 170, the Mel Price Lock and Dam, the Thomas F.
Eagleton Federal Courthouse and $64 million to renovate the former
Mart Building, 1222 Spruce Street, which Congress renamed in his honor
after he lost his bid for re-election in 1986.
Republican opponents accused him of trading votes on Capitol Hill to
get "pork" projects. Said a flattered Mr. Young, "If that's a fault,
I'm guilty."
Mr. Young grew up in Normandy, the oldest in a family of nine
children, graduated from Normandy High School and joined the Army in
1943. He took part in the landing at Utah Beach on D-day and was in
Gen. George Patton's 3rd Army during the Battle of the Bulge and was
awarded the Bronze Star.
Returning home, he joined Pipefitters Local 562, the union of his
father and future father-in-law. Then and now, Local 562 was
influential in local Democratic politics. He married the former Irene
Slawson in 1947 and moved to St. Ann around 1950.
He was elected Democratic committeeman of Airport Township in 1952
and, four years later, was elected state representative for the St.
Ann area. In 1962, he was elected to the Missouri Senate.
In Jefferson City, his close allies included two fellow fitters who
also had married sisters of his wife -- former representatives Patrick
Hickey and the late Patrick O'Connor. They were known in the capitol
as the fitter triumvirate.
Mr. Young served in the state Senate until 1976, when he was elected
congressman. He was a blue-collar Democrat of the old school -- 100
percent pro-labor, a strong opponent of abortion and generally
conservative on other social issues. Never much of a floor debater, he
worked his key positions on House committees to become a point man for
regional products, including the building named after him, which is in
the 1st Congressional District.
He co-founded the Congressional Blue Collar Caucus and, in 1981, was
honored as "Construction Industry Man of the Year" by Pride of St.
Louis, an organization of contractors and trade unions.
In 1986, Republican Jack Buechner turned the "pork barrel" label
against Mr. Young, beating him on the second try in a district that,
due to redistricting in 1982, was changing into the Republican
territory it is today. For a time after his defeat, Mr. Young worked
as a lobbyist in Washington for St. Louis-area issues, including
federal money to build MetroLink.
The Mart Building was renamed in his honor in 1990. The 20-story
building, built in 1931 by the Terminal Railroad Association, now
houses numerous federal agencies.
Irene Young died in 1997, shortly before they celebrated their 50th
anniversary. Mr. Young served on the Lambert Airport Commission from
1998 to 2005.
He also served earlier this decade on the board of the James S.
McDonnell USO at Lambert.
One grandson, Robert 5, preceded him in death in 2000. Mr. Young is
survived by two daughters, Ann Lewis of Tucson, Ariz., and Margaret
Goldkamp of Chesterfield; a son, Robert A. IIII of St. Louis County;
two sisters, Peggy Griffin of Kirkwood, Alice Mertz of Ballwin,
Eleanor Newell of St. Louis, one brother, Pete Young of north St.
Louis County; nine grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Colliers in St. Ann. Funeral
Mass will be at Mass will be at Holy Spirit Church, formerly St.
Blaise, in Maryland Heights.
DGH
Official Congressional biography at:
http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp
- - - - -
YOUNG, Robert Anton, III, (1923 - )
YOUNG, Robert Anton, III, a Representative from Missouri; born in St.
Louis, St. Louis County, Mo., November 22, 1923; attended the primary
schools of Vinita Park, Mo.; graduated from Normandy High School, St.
Louis, 1941; pipefitter; served in the United States Army, 1943-1945;
member, Missouri state house of representatives, 1957-1961, senate,
1963-1976; delegate, Missouri State Democratic conventions, 1952-1976;
delegate to nine Democratic National Conventions from 1960 to 1992;
elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth and to the four succeeding
Congresses (January 3, 1977-January 3, 1987); was an unsuccessful
candidate for reelection in 1986; is a resident of Maryland Heights,
Mo.