Missouri Civil Rights Trailblazer Bill Clay Sr. Dies at 94

Former U.S. Rep. Bill Clay Sr., Missouri’s first Black congressman and a longtime champion of civil and workers’ rights, died Thursday at age 94. Clay served the state’s 1st District for 32 years, from 1969 to 2001, becoming a pivotal figure in St. Louis politics and the city’s post-Civil Rights Act transformation.

Clay, who began his political career on the St. Louis Board of Aldermen at just 28, was instrumental in reshaping the city after years of redlining and segregation. He played a key role in brokering deals with construction companies and business leaders to revitalize the urban core, leaving a lasting mark on the city’s skyline.

An early protest leader during sit-ins against segregated businesses, Clay became a trusted figure in Black St. Louis. “The Black community, almost overwhelmingly, looked at him as a fighter for them,” said his son, former Congressman Lacy Clay. Clay also co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971 and supported major legislation like the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Tributes poured in from Missouri leaders. Rep. Wesley Bell called him a “giant” and mentor, while St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer said his legacy is “etched in historic legislative battles for the poor and disenfranchised.” The Congressional Black Caucus praised his “transformative impact” on American politics.

Michael P. McMillan of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis remembered Clay as a civil rights pioneer who “changed the lives of countless people locally and nationally.” His legacy, many agreed, will endure for generations.