W. Todd Akin: “coming from the Second Congressional District, my memory is just long enough to recall some actual personal encounters…”

“coming from the Second Congressional District, my memory is just long enough to recall some actual personal encounters with Bob Young. Bob was almost a caricature of politics in North County, St. Louis. Bob was a guy who was a pipefitter, he was a war hero, he was in the Third Army under Patton, came back, got into politics. He served 20 years in the Missouri legislature, house and senate, and then came down here for about 10 years or so and was very plain spoken. He wasn't noted for sugar-coating things, but he had a wonderful sense of humor, fiercely loyal to labor unions, but reasonably conservative in a lot of other regards, left a family that was involved in politics as well. But somebody who had a real cheerful twinkle in his eye, a good sense of humor and somebody I know that the St. Louis area will long remember as a good leader and a good man. So we are sorry for his passing. On the other hand, we are thankful for the richness of his life.”