Joseph M. Gaydos

Joseph Matthew Gaydos (July 3, 1926 – February 7, 2015) was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Gaydos was the first Slovak American to serve in the United States Congress.[2]

Joseph M. Gaydos
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 20th district
In office
November 5, 1968  January 3, 1993
Preceded byElmer Holland
Succeeded byAustin Murphy
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate
from the 45th district
In office
January 2, 1967  November 5, 1968[1]
Preceded byLeonard Staisey
Succeeded byEdward Zemprelli
Personal details
Born
Joseph Matthew Gaydos

(1926-07-03)July 3, 1926
Braddock, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedFebruary 7, 2015(2015-02-07) (aged 88)
Elizabeth Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Alice Ann Gaydos (née Gray; died March 19, 2001)

Early life and education

Gaydos was born in Braddock, Pennsylvania. His Hungarian father was born in Northern Hungary ([today mostly [Slovakia]]), later it became part of Czechoslovakia, following World War I by the Treaty of Trianon.


was annexed by Czechoslovakia following World War I and the Treaty of Trianon.[3]

He attended Duquesne University and graduated from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1951.

World War II

He served during World War II in the Pacific theater with the United States Navy Reserve, 1944–1946.

Political career

He served in the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1967 to 1968.[4] He served as Deputy Attorney General of Pennsylvania, Assistant Solicitor of Allegheny County, and general counsel to United Mine Workers of America, district five.

He was elected simultaneously as a Democrat to the 90th and to the 91st Congress, by special election, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of United States Representative Elmer Holland.

He prioritized workers’ rights and preservation of the domestic steel industry while in Congress. He was a strong supporter of organized labor and was a leading proponent of strengthening labor laws to provide health and pension benefits, as well as job safety protections, for employees.[5]

He was not a candidate for renomination in 1992.

He died on February 7, 2015, aged 88.[6][7]

References

  1. Cox, Harold (2004). "Pennsylvania Senate - 1967-1968" (PDF). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
  2. Fedor, Helen. "The Slovaks in America". loc.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
  3. Cultural Contributions of Americans with Roots in Slovakia, svu2000.org; accessed March 2, 2015.
  4. Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "G"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
  5. Natasha Lindstrom (February 9, 2015). "Legislator's history turned focus to workers' rights". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  6. Obituary-Joseph M. Gaydos, legacy.com; accessed March 1, 2015.
  7. Natasha Lindstrom (February 9, 2015). "Legislator's history turned focus to workers' rights". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved February 17, 2015.

Sources

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
Elmer Holland
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Pennsylvania's 20th congressional district

1968–1993
Succeeded by
Austin Murphy
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