Former Congressman Bill Clay Sr., Missouri’s first Black U.S. Representative and a giant in the fight for civil rights, has died at 94. From his early activism in segregated St. Louis to a 32-year congressional career, Clay was a tireless advocate for working families, racial justice, and labor rights.
A founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Clay helped pass landmark legislation like the Family and Medical Leave Act and fought to raise the minimum wage. He transformed St. Louis through economic development and mentored generations of leaders, including his son Lacy Clay, who succeeded him in Congress.
Clay’s legacy lives on through the lives he touched, the laws he shaped, and the communities he empowered.
