Longtime House Democrat Passes Away

Missouri Democratic Rep. Bill Clay Sr., the state’s first Black congressman, passed away Thursday at 94 after serving 32 years in the U.S. House.

Elected in 1968, Clay represented Missouri’s 1st District until 2001. A champion of civil and workers’ rights, he played a central role in reshaping St. Louis after “white flight,” working with unions and businesses to drive development around the city’s iconic arch.

Known as a power broker, Clay’s endorsements strongly influenced Democratic politics. He also expected firm loyalty from those he supported. His son, former Rep. Lacy Clay, said, “The Black community, almost overwhelmingly, looked at him as a fighter for them.”

Clay’s career began early. At 28, he won a seat on the St. Louis Board of Aldermen in 1959, quickly becoming a leader in the fight against segregation. He joined sit-ins challenging discriminatory practices at businesses like White Castle and Howard Johnson.

“St. Louis was no different from any of the cities in the South,” Clay recalled in 1998. “We had rigid segregation — not by law, but by custom.” His activism laid the foundation for his congressional career.

Tributes poured in following his passing. St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer praised his work on the Family and Medical Leave Act and minimum wage increases, calling him a courageous advocate for the poor and disenfranchised. Rep. Wesley Bell remembered him as a mentor and trailblazer.

The Congressional Black Caucus, which Clay co-founded in 1971, honored him as a pioneer whose legacy continues to inspire new generations of Black leaders.