Joseph M. Gaydos

American politician

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 by	Elmer Holland
Succeeded by	Austin Murphy
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 45th district
In office January 2, 1967 – November 5, 1968^[1]
Preceded by	Leonard Staisey
Succeeded by	Edward Zemprelli
Personal details
Born	Joseph Matthew Gaydos (1926年07月03日)July 3, 1926 Braddock, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	February 7, 2015(2015年02月07日) (aged 88) Elizabeth Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Alice Ann Gaydos (née Gray; died March 19, 2001)

Joseph Matthew Gaydos (July 3, 1926 – February 7, 2015) was an American lawyer, World War II veteran, 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

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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

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

Political career

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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

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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

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

References

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^ Cox, Harold (2004). "Pennsylvania Senate - 1967-1968" (PDF). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project . Wilkes University.
^ Fedor, Helen. "The Slovaks in America". loc.gov. Retrieved April 12, 2013.
^ "Joseph Matthew Gaydos". The official website for the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Retrieved 2021年08月18日.
^ Cultural Contributions of Americans with Roots in Slovakia, svu2000.org; accessed March 2, 2015.
^ Cox, Harold. "Senate Members "G"". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project . Wilkes University.
^ Natasha Lindstrom (February 9, 2015). "Legislator's history turned focus to workers' rights". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
^ Obituary-Joseph M. Gaydos, legacy.com; accessed March 1, 2015.
^ Natasha Lindstrom (February 9, 2015). "Legislator's history turned focus to workers' rights". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved February 17, 2015.

Sources

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United States Congress. "Joseph M. Gaydos (id: G000105)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress .; retrieved March 1, 2015
Appearances on C-SPAN

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