Robert A. Young III was born November 27, 1923. Young was the oldest child in a family that grew to include nine children. He was educated in parochial schools in St. Louis County. He attended McBride High School and graduated from Normandy High School in 1941.
Young served in the U.S. Army from February 1943 to November 1945. His unit landed "under fire" on Utah Beach, on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He then served in General George Patton's 3rd Army in the Battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for valor in combat, the African-European Campaign Medal with Five Battle stars, the Combat Infantryman Badge, and the French Croix-de-Guerre with Palm for D-Day.
He married Irene Slawson on November 27, 1947 and they were married for fifty years, until her death in 1997. Their family includes three children, nine grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
Young was a union pipe fitter by trade, a member of Pipe fitters and Plumbers Local 562, AFL-CIO, St. Louis, until his election to Congress in 1976.
Young's long political career began in 1952 with his election as Democratic Committeeman for Airport Township in St. Louis County, an office he held until 1977. He was elected to the Missouri House of Representatives in 1956 and served there for 6 years. In 1962, he was elected to the Missouri State Senate, and served for 14 years.
During his years in the State Legislature, Young supported legislation that created the St. Louis Junior College District and helped establish the University of Missouri St. Louis. The St. Louis Globe-Democrat awarded him its prestigious Award for Meritous Service to his state three times, 1972, 1974, and 1976.
In 1976, Young was elected to the United States House of Representatives representing the Second Congressional District of Missouri. He served five terms until he was defeated for re-election by Jack Buechner in 1986. As a member of Congress, he served on several key committees including Public Works and Transportation, Aviation, Water Resources, and Science and Technology.
Young was a strong proponent of public works projects to benefit his district and the state of Missouri. The St. Louis Construction News and Review and Pride, Inc. named Young "Construction Industry Man of the Year" in 1981. Among the projects he supported were landscaping the Gateway Arch, renovation of the Old Post Office, the creation of the light-rail mass transit Metro Link system, the construction of the Thomas F. Eagleton Federal Courthouse, the expansion of Lambert Airport, and the new Lock and Dam 26 at Alton, Illinois.
Since his retirement from public office, Young has remained active and involved in community affairs. He is a life member of Amvets, VFW, and a current active member of American Legion Post 338 in Overland, Missouri. He serves on the Board of the James S. McDonnell USO and is a member of the St. Louis Airport Commission.
