Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 03:41, 12 November 2010

Gus Yatron
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 6th district
In office January 3, 1969 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by	George Rhodes
Succeeded by	Tim Holden
Member of the Pennsylvania Senate from the 11th district
In office January 3, 1961 – November 30, 1968
Preceded by	Frank Ruth
Succeeded by	Robert Gerhart
Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from the Berks County district
In office January 1, 1957 – November 30, 1959
Personal details
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Mildred L. Yatron
Alma mater	Kutztown University
Profession	Legislator, Businessman, Boxer

Constantine "Gus" Yatron (October 16, 1927 - March 13, 2003) was an American politician who was a member of the United States House of Representatives. A member of the Democratic Party, Yatron represented the 6th congressional district of Pennsylvania for twelve terms, from 1969 until his retirement in 1993. The 6th district, based in Reading, included Berks County and Schuylkill County, before being redrawn in 2002.

Early Life & Family

Gus Yatron was born in Reading, PA, to George H. and Theano Lazo Yatron, working-class Greek immigrants from the Greek city of Mytilene, the capital of the island, Lesbos. His father, George, was a carpenter and his mother, Theano, worked as a maid. Yatron graduated from Reading High School, serving as Class President during his senior year. Following high school, Yatron received his bachelor’s degree at Kutztown University in Kutztown, PA in 1950, where he also met his wife to be, Mildred L. Yatron. While attending Kutztown University, Yatron played college football for the Golden Bears, and was later inducted into the Kutztown University Athletic Hall of Fame. During his college years, he also took up boxing, becoming a heavyweight division professional boxer in 1947, with a professional career record of 13-2-1, nine of which were TKO. After graduating from college, Yatron ran 'Yatron Ice Cream,' the business he founded with his father and built it into a local success in his home town, Reading, PA, eventually expanding the business with an additional hardware store. In 1968, he sold 'Yatron Ice Cream' to a local competitor and began to focus on his career in political public service.

Political career

Yatron started his career in public service as a member of the Reading School Board from 1955–1961. In 1956, He was elected as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives until 1960. He then ran, and was elected as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1960 to 1968. Campaigning as a moderate, who stood for fiscal responsibility and opposition to the further escalation of the Vietnam War, Yatron was elected, in 1969, as a Democrat to the 91st United States Congress, representing the 6th congressional district of Pennsylvania. In entering office, Yatron immediately made a name for himself as a workhorse for his constituents at home. His first major legislation, in 1971, was to expand black lung benefits and extend eligibility to afflicted miners, their widows and children. In 1973, Yatron travelled to Europe to deliver a speech to the European Parliament in France, advocating NATO countries to take more initiative in absorbing the costs of defending Europe. As a Greek-American, Yatron found personal hardship in the conflict that took shape during the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. Being one of the few Greek-Americans in the U.S. Congress, he took leadership in implementing U.S. assistance to helping ultimately secure a cease-fire in the region. Yatron sponsored legislation, signed into law in 1975, which would set up a committee to review the amount of paper wasted in U.S. federal bureaucracy and make recommendations that would reduce the waste. After its investigation, the Paperwork Commission made recommendations that saved $3.5 billion, as a result. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Yatron became a passionate champion for establishing human rights as a cornerstone to U.S. foreign policy. He travelled to international regions afflicted with poor human rights records to push for adequate reforms. Yatron, subsequently, took the chairmanship of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Inter-American Affairs in 1979 and began investigations into the Iran-Contra affair. In 1983, Yatron switched chairmanships, to become the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight. After serving 24 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, Yatron chose not to seek re-election in 1992, completing his final term in office, before retirement.

Post-Political Career

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (July 2010)

Sources

• United States Congress. "Gus Yatron (id: Y000014)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

See also

• Black Lung Benefits Act of 1973

Template:Persondata

• 1927 births
• 2003 deaths
• Members of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
• Pennsylvania State Senators
• Members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
• Pennsylvania Democrats
• American people of Greek descent
• American politicians of Greek descent
• School board members in the United States
• Kutztown University of Pennsylvania alumni