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Longtime Missouri Congressman Bill Clay Sr. Dies at 94<\/strong><\/p>\n Former Missouri Representative William \u201cBill\u201d Clay Sr., the state\u2019s first Black congressman and a pioneering civil rights advocate, died Thursday at age 94. Clay served Missouri\u2019s 1st Congressional District from 1969 to 2001, dedicating more than three decades to labor rights, social justice, and expanding opportunities for underrepresented communities. A native of St. Louis, Clay rose to prominence in the 1950s and \u201960s as a civil rights activist. He was elected to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen in 1959 at just 28 and became a leading voice against racial segregation in local businesses. \u201cSt. Louis was no different from any of the cities in the South,\u201d he once said. \u201cWe had rigid segregation \u2014 not by law, but by custom.\u201d<\/p>\n In Congress, Clay co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971 and played a major role in advancing the Family and Medical Leave Act and minimum wage increases. He was known for his strong influence in Missouri politics, insisting on party loyalty and mentoring younger leaders, including his son, former Rep. Lacy Clay. Over his 32-year tenure, Clay earned a reputation as a tireless advocate for workers\u2019 rights and equal opportunity, helping to reshape St. Louis\u2019s political and economic landscape. His efforts in bridging racial and class divides left an indelible mark on the region\u2019s recovery during the post\u2013Civil Rights era.<\/p>\n Tributes poured in from across the political spectrum. St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer praised his \u201ccourageous legacy of public service,\u201d while Congressman Wesley Bell (D-MO) called him \u201ca giant\u2026 a mentor, trailblazer, and dear friend.\u201d The Congressional Black Caucus hailed him as a leader whose work \u201claid the foundation for future generations of Black leadership.\u201d Michael P. McMillan of the Urban League described him as \u201ca civil rights pioneer who helped transform St. Louis and change countless lives.\u201d Clay\u2019s death marks the passing of a monumental figure whose advocacy inspired generations of public servants.<\/p>\n