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)

Joseph Matthew Gaydos (July 3, 1926 – February 7, 2015) was an American lawyer and Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania, serving 8 terms from 1968 to 1992. Gaydos was the first Slovak American to serve in the United States Congress.[2]

Early life and education

Gaydos was born in Braddock, Pennsylvania. His parents were called John and Elona Magella Gaydos[3] and were born in Slovakia.[4]

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 from 1944 to 1946.

Political career

He served in the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1967 to 1968.[5] He served as Deputy Attorney General of Pennsylvania, Assistant Solicitor of Allegheny County, and general counsel to United Mine Workers of America, district five. [citation needed]

Congress

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.[6]

He was not a candidate for renomination in 1992.

Death

He died on February 7, 2015, aged 88.[7][8]

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. ^ "Joseph Matthew Gaydos". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  4. ^ Cultural Contributions of Americans with Roots in Slovakia, svu2000.org; accessed March 2, 2015.
  5. ^ Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "G"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.
  6. ^ Natasha Lindstrom (February 9, 2015). "Legislator's history turned focus to workers' rights". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
  7. ^ Obituary-Joseph M. Gaydos, legacy.com; accessed March 1, 2015.
  8. ^ 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 byElmer Holland Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 20th congressional district 1968–1993 Succeeded byAustin Murphy
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