Bill Clay
Encyclopedia
William Lacy "Bill" Clay, Sr. (born April 30, 1931) is a politician
from the state
of 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
and he graduated from Saint Louis University
. 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 until 1967.
Clay was elected to the House of Representatives
as a Democrat in 1968. He became an advocate for environmentalism
, labor issues, and social justice
. Clay faced ethics charges in the 1970s for billing the government on auto trips while flying on airlines, and the House banking scandal
revealed that Clay had 328 overdrafts. In 1993, Clay helped to pass 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 William Lacy Clay, Jr.
succeeded him.
Clay made news in early 2007 when, as co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus
, he objected to the possible inclusion of white congressman Steve Cohen
from Tennessee, who represents a majority black district and had made a campaign promise to attempt to become the first white member of the CBC. Clay circulated a memo to current members saying that it was "absolutely critical" that membership remain "exclusively African-American." Although it is not part of the CBC's bylaws that members must be black, all members so far have been black.
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.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
from the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
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...
. As Congressman from Missouri's First District, he represented portions of St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
in the U.S. House of Representatives for 32 years.
Clay was born in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and he graduated from Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
. Clay served in the United States Army
United 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 1953 to 1955, and he was a St. Louis alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
from 1959 to 1964. Clay served 105 days in jail for participating in a Civil Rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
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 until 1967.
Clay was elected to the 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...
as a Democrat in 1968. He became an advocate for environmentalism
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
, labor issues, and social justice
Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
. Clay faced ethics charges in the 1970s for billing the government on auto trips while flying on airlines, and the House banking scandal
House banking scandal
The House banking scandal broke in early 1992, when it was revealed that the United States House of Representatives allowed members to overdraw their House checking accounts without risk of being penalized by the House bank ....
revealed that Clay had 328 overdrafts. In 1993, Clay helped to pass the Family and Medical Leave Act
Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993
The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 is a United States federal law requiring covered employers to provide employees job-protected unpaid leave for qualified medical and family reasons. These reasons include personal or family illness, military service, family military leave, pregnancy,...
.
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 William Lacy Clay, Jr.
William Lacy Clay, Jr.
William Lacy Clay, Jr., usually known as Lacy Clay is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
succeeded him.
Clay made news in early 2007 when, as co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus
Congressional Black Caucus
The Congressional Black Caucus is an organization representing the black members of the United States Congress. Membership is exclusive to blacks, and its chair in the 112th Congress is Representative Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri.-Aims:...
, he objected to the possible inclusion of white congressman Steve Cohen
Steve Cohen
Stephen Ira Cohen is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2007. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Tennessee's 9th district includes almost three-fourths of Memphis. Cohen is Tennessee's first Jewish congressman....
from Tennessee, who represents a majority black district and had made a campaign promise to attempt to become the first white member of the CBC. Clay circulated a memo to current members saying that it was "absolutely critical" that membership remain "exclusively African-American." Although it is not part of the CBC's bylaws that members must be black, all members so far have been black.
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.
Books authored
Clay has written several works of non-fiction.- To Kill or Not to Kill: Thoughts on Capital Punishment (1990) ISBN 0-893-70331-1
- Just Permanent Interests: Black Americans in Congress, 1870–1991 (1992) ISBN 1-567-43000-7
- Racism in the White House: A Common Practice of Most United States Presidents (2002) ISBN 0-882-58206-2
- Bill Clay: A Political Voice at the Grass Roots (2004) ISBN 1-883-98252-9 Designed by Steve Hartman of Creativille, Inc. http://www.creativille.net