Former Missouri Democratic Congressman William “Bill” Clay Sr., who served three decades in Congress and was one of the architects of the Congressional Black Caucus, passed away Thursday at the age of 94.

Clay, who represented Missouri’s 1st District from 1969 to 2001, became the state’s first Black congressman during an era of rapid transformation following the Civil Rights movement. A vocal advocate for unionized labor and expanded government programs, Clay remained a fixture in St. Louis politics for over half a century.

His legacy — hailed by Democrats and progressive groups — includes co-founding the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971, backing controversial minimum wage hikes, and helping push through the Family and Medical Leave Act, legislation that expanded federal mandates on businesses.

Though celebrated by many on the left, Clay was known to demand absolute party loyalty from those he endorsed — a reality that made him both a political powerhouse and, at times, a divisive figure within Missouri’s Democratic machine.

“The Black community, almost overwhelmingly, looked at him as a fighter for them,” said his son, former Rep. Lacy Clay (D-MO), who succeeded his father and carried the family’s political torch in Washington until 2021.

Clay entered public life in 1959 when he was elected to the St. Louis Board of Aldermen at age 28, riding the wave of racial activism following the 1954 Brown v. Board decision. He participated in sit-ins protesting discriminatory practices by businesses like White Castle and Howard Johnson’s — restaurants that, in those years, seated black and white customers separately.

“St. Louis was no different from any of the cities in the South,” Clay said in a 1998 profile. “We had rigid segregation — not by law, but by custom.”

After the passage of the 1965 Civil Rights Act, Clay leveraged the shifting political winds to build influence in St. Louis, often bartering with construction unions and corporate executives to secure government-backed urban renewal projects. His role in shaping the city’s modern skyline is often credited to his backroom dealings with trade officials and business elites — efforts that coincided with massive federal spending and controversial urban rezoning.

Democrats quickly rushed to memorialize Clay’s passing.

St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer, a progressive Democrat, praised his legacy, saying Clay’s “historic legislative battles” benefited “the poor, underrepresented, and disenfranchised.”

“Millions have him to thank for the Family and Medical Leave Act and raising the minimum wage,” Spencer added, calling Clay a leader whose work influenced generations of left-wing lawmakers in Congress.

Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO) called him a “giant” and praised his mentorship, while the Congressional Black Caucus, which has grown to 62 members in the 119th Congress, issued a statement honoring his “legacy of dignity, courage, and transformative impact.”

Michael McMillan, president of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, echoed similar sentiments, calling Clay “a civil rights pioneer who helped transform St. Louis.”

While tributes flowed in from Democrat officials and activist groups, critics of Clay’s legacy may point to the long-term effects of entrenched single-party rule in St. Louis — a city that, despite decades of progressive leadership, continues to grapple with crime, economic stagnation, and population decline.

Nonetheless, Clay’s role in shaping the Democratic Party’s leftward tilt and cementing identity politics in Congress cannot be understated. His passing marks the end of a political era — and a reminder of how much influence unelected political dynasties have long wielded behind the scenes.