Robert A. Young
Encyclopedia
Robert A. Young III was a Democratic
politician
from the state of Missouri
who served five terms in the US House of Representatives.
. He attended McBride High School and graduated from Normandy 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, nine grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
Young was a union pipefitter
by trade, a member of Pipefitters and Plumbers Local 562, AFL-CIO, St. Louis, until his election to Congress in 1976.
from February 1943 to November 1945. His unit landed “under fire” on Utah Beach
, on D-Day
, June 6, 1944. He then served in General George Patton’s 3rd Army in the Battle of the Bulge
. He was awarded the Bronze Star
for valor in combat, the African-European Campaign Medal with Five Battlestars, the Combat Infantryman Badge
, and the French Croix-de-Guerre with Palm for D-Day.
in 1956 and served there for 6 years. In 1962, he was elected to the Missouri State Senate, and served for 14 years.
During his years in the State Legislature, Young supported legislation that created the St. Louis Junior College
District and helped establish the University of Missouri–St. Louis
. The St. 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 the United States House of Representatives
representing the Second Congressional District of Missouri. As a member of Congress, he served on several key committees including Public Works and Transportation, Aviation, Water Resources, and Science 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 by Republican
State Representative Jack Buechner
in 1984 as Ronald 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 of public 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 the Gateway Arch
, renovation of the Old Post Office, the creation of the light-rail mass transit MetroLink system, the construction of the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse, the expansion of Lambert Airport, and the new Lock and Dam 26 at Alton, Illinois
.
. He also served on the Board of the James S. McDonnell USO and was a member of the St. Louis Airport Commission.
designated the Federal Building in downtown St. Louis as the “Robert A. Young Federal Building” in Young's honor.
Other awards and honors he has received include:
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the state of Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
who served five terms in the US House of Representatives.
Education and family background
Young was the oldest child in a family that grew to include nine children. He was educated in parochial schools in St. Louis CountySt. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
. He attended McBride High School and graduated from Normandy High School
Normandy High School (Missouri)
Normandy High School, is a high school in the town of Normandy, Missouri, in St. Louis County, Missouri.-History:Normandy High was founded in 1923 by a group of educators whose goal was "the ideal high school." They planned a six-year school, from 7th through 12 grades, with plans to add the first...
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, nine grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
Young was a union pipefitter
Pipefitter
A pipefitter is a tradesman who lays out, assembles, fabricates, maintains and repairs mechanical piping systems. Pipefitters usually go through a mix of apprentice and trade school training. Journeyman pipefitters/steamfitters deal with industrial process piping and heating/cooling systems...
by trade, a member of Pipefitters and Plumbers Local 562, AFL-CIO, St. Louis, until his election to Congress in 1976.
Military service
Young served in the U.S. ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
from February 1943 to November 1945. His unit landed “under fire” on Utah Beach
Utah Beach
Utah Beach was the code name for the right flank, or westernmost, of the Allied landing beaches during the D-Day invasion of Normandy, as part of Operation Overlord on 6 June 1944...
, on D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, June 6, 1944. He then served in General George Patton’s 3rd Army in the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
. He was awarded the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
for valor in combat, the African-European Campaign Medal with Five Battlestars, the Combat Infantryman Badge
Combat Infantryman Badge
The Combat Infantryman Badge is the U.S. Army combat service recognition decoration awarded to soldiers—enlisted men and officers holding colonel rank or below, who personally fought in active ground combat while an assigned member of either an infantry or a Special Forces unit, of brigade size...
, and the French Croix-de-Guerre with Palm for D-Day.
Political career
Young's long political career began in 1952 with his election as Democratic Committeeman for Airport Township in St. Louis County, an office he held until 1977. He was elected to the Missouri House of RepresentativesMissouri House of Representatives
The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 members, representing districts with an average size of 31,000 residents. House members are elected for two-year terms during general elections held in even-numbered years.In 1992 Missouri...
in 1956 and served there for 6 years. In 1962, he was elected to the Missouri State Senate, and served for 14 years.
During his years in the State Legislature, Young supported legislation that created the St. Louis Junior College
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
District and helped establish the University of Missouri–St. Louis
University of Missouri–St. Louis
The University of Missouri–St. Louis is one of four universities in the University of Missouri System. Established in 1963, it is the newest university in the UM System. , it is the largest university by enrollment in the St. Louis area with 16,548 students...
. The St. Louis Globe-Democrat
St. Louis Globe-Democrat
The St. Louis Globe-Democrat was originally a daily print newspaper based in St. Louis, Missouri from 1852 until 1986...
awarded him its Award for Meritious Service to his state three times, 1972, 1974, and 1976.
In 1976, Young was elected to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
representing the Second Congressional District of Missouri. As a member of Congress, he served on several key committees including Public Works and Transportation, Aviation, Water Resources, and Science 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 by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
State Representative Jack Buechner
Jack Buechner
John William "Jack" Buechner is an American lawyer and politician from the U.S. state of Missouri. A Republican, Buechner served in the United States House of Representatives for Missouri's 2nd congressional district from 1987 to 1991...
in 1984 as Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
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 of public 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 the Gateway Arch
Gateway Arch
The Gateway Arch, or Gateway to the West, is an arch that is the centerpiece of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, Missouri. It was built as a monument to the westward expansion of the United States...
, renovation of the Old Post Office, the creation of the light-rail mass transit MetroLink system, the construction of the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse, the expansion of Lambert Airport, and the new Lock and Dam 26 at Alton, Illinois
Alton, Illinois
Alton is a city on the Mississippi River in Madison County, Illinois, United States, about north of St. Louis, Missouri. The population was 27,865 at the 2010 census. It is a part of the Metro-East region of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area in Southern Illinois...
.
Retirement
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 in Overland, MissouriOverland, Missouri
Overland is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 16,062 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Overland is located at ....
. He also served on the Board of the James S. McDonnell USO and was a member of the St. Louis Airport Commission.
Awards and honors
In 1988, President Ronald ReaganRonald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
designated the Federal Building in downtown St. Louis as the “Robert A. Young Federal Building” in Young's honor.
Other awards and honors he has received include:
- The John H. Poelker Transportation Progress Award by the RCGARegional Chamber and Growth AssociationThe St. Louis Regional Chamber and Growth Association is the chamber of commerce and primary economic development agency for Metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri....
Board of Directors: - Honorary Doctor of Humanities from the Logan School of Chiropractic;
- The “Able Helmsman” of the Year by the Greater St. Louis Port Council;
- Dean’s Award from the University of Missouri, St. Louis
- St. Louis County Historical Society “Father Faherty” Award, 1992
- Thomas JeffersonThomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
Award from the St. Louis County Democrats, 2001.