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| term_end2 = November 30, 1968 | | term_end2 = November 30, 1968 | ||
| predecessor2 = ] | | predecessor2 = ] | ||
| successor2 = ] | | successor2 = ] | ||
| party = ] | | party = ] | ||
| spouse = Mildred L. Yatron | | spouse = Mildred L. Yatron | ||
| children = George C. Yatron<br>Theana Yatron Kastens | | children = George C. Yatron<br>Theana Yatron Kastens | ||
| profession= |
| profession=Legislator, Businessman, ] | ||
| alma_mater = ] | | alma_mater = ] | ||
| religion = ] | | religion = ] | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Constantine "Gus" Yatron''' (October 16, 1927 – March 13, 2003) was an |
'''Constantine "Gus" Yatron''' (October 16, 1927 – March 13, 2003) was an American politician who served as a ] member of the ] for ] from 1969 to 1993. | ||
==Early life and education== | ==Early life and education== | ||
Gus Yatron was born in ], to George H. and Theano Lazo Yatron, working-class |
Gus Yatron was born in ], to George H. and Theano Lazo Yatron, working-class Greek immigrants from the Greek city of ], of the island ]. His father, George, was a carpenter and his mother, Theano, worked as a maid. Yatron graduated from ], serving as class president during his senior year. Following high school, Yatron received his bachelor's degree at ] 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 ] 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, 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pennsylvania State Senate - Constantine Gus Yatron Biography |url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=2470&body=S |website=www.legis.state.pa.us |accessdate=23 March 2019}}</ref> | ||
==Political career== | ==Political career== | ||
Yatron started his career in public service on the Reading School Board from 1955 to 1961. He served in the ] for ] from 1956 until 1960.<ref name=PHOR>{{cite web |title=Pennsylvania House of Representatives - GUS YATRON Biography |url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=1604&body=H |website=www.legis.state.pa.us |accessdate=23 March 2019}}</ref> He served as a member of the ] for the ] from 1961 to 1968. In 1968, campaigning as a moderate in support of fiscal responsibility and opposition to further military involvement in the ], Yatron was elected to the ], representing the ] of ]. Upon entering office, Yatron quick made a name for himself as a workhorse for his constituency. His first major legislation, in 1971, expanded ] benefits and extended eligibility requirements for afflicted miners, their widows and children. |
Yatron started his career in public service on the Reading School Board from 1955 to 1961. He served in the ] for ] from 1956 until 1960.<ref name=PHOR>{{cite web |title=Pennsylvania House of Representatives - GUS YATRON Biography |url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/BiosHistory/MemBio.cfm?ID=1604&body=H |website=www.legis.state.pa.us |accessdate=23 March 2019}}</ref> He served as a member of the ] for the ] from 1961 to 1968. In 1968, campaigning as a moderate in support of fiscal responsibility and opposition to further military involvement in the ], Yatron was elected to the ], representing the ] of ]. Upon entering office, Yatron quick made a name for himself as a workhorse for his constituency. His first major legislation, in 1971, expanded ] benefits and extended eligibility requirements for afflicted miners, their widows and children. Yatron sponsored legislation, signed into law in 1975, which set up a committee to review the volume of paper wasted in U.S. federal government and offer recommendations to reduce that waste. After its investigation, the Paperwork Commission made recommendations that resulted in savings of $3.5 billion. As a Greek-American, Yatron found personal hardship during the 1974 ]. As one in a few Greek-Americans in the U.S. Congress, he took leadership in implementing U.S. assistance that ultimately led to a cease-fire in the region. In 1973, Yatron traveled to Europe delivering a speech to the ] in France, urging ] countries to take more initiative in absorbing the costs of defending Europe. As a member of the ], Yatron became a passionate advocate for centering human rights as the cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. He took the chairmanship of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Inter-American Affairs in 1979 and began investigations into the ]. In 1983, Yatron become the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight. After serving 24 years in the ], Yatron retired in 1992. | ||
He died in ] and is interred at the ] in ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Gus Yatron |url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7262367/gus-yatron |website=www.findagrave.com |accessdate=23 March 2019}}</ref> | He died in ] and is interred at the ] in ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Gus Yatron |url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7262367/gus-yatron |website=www.findagrave.com |accessdate=23 March 2019}}</ref> |
Revision as of 21:18, 17 August 2019
American politicianGus 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 | |
Born | (1927-10-16)October 16, 1927 Reading, Pennsylvania |
Died | March 13, 2003(2003-03-13) (aged 75) Fairfax Station, Virginia |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Mildred L. Yatron |
Children | George C. Yatron Theana Yatron Kastens |
Alma mater | Kutztown University |
Profession | Legislator, Businessman, Boxer |
Constantine "Gus" Yatron (October 16, 1927 – March 13, 2003) was an American politician who served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives for Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district from 1969 to 1993.
Early life and education
Gus Yatron was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, to George H. and Theano Lazo Yatron, working-class Greek immigrants from the Greek city of Mytilene, 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 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, 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 on the Reading School Board from 1955 to 1961. He served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for Berks County from 1956 until 1960. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate for the 11th district from 1961 to 1968. In 1968, campaigning as a moderate in support of fiscal responsibility and opposition to further military involvement in the Vietnam War, Yatron was elected to the 91st United States Congress, representing the 6th congressional district of Pennsylvania. Upon entering office, Yatron quick made a name for himself as a workhorse for his constituency. His first major legislation, in 1971, expanded black lung benefits and extended eligibility requirements for afflicted miners, their widows and children. Yatron sponsored legislation, signed into law in 1975, which set up a committee to review the volume of paper wasted in U.S. federal government and offer recommendations to reduce that waste. After its investigation, the Paperwork Commission made recommendations that resulted in savings of $3.5 billion. As a Greek-American, Yatron found personal hardship during the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus. As one in a few Greek-Americans in the U.S. Congress, he took leadership in implementing U.S. assistance that ultimately led to a cease-fire in the region. In 1973, Yatron traveled to Europe delivering a speech to the European Parliament in France, urging NATO countries to take more initiative in absorbing the costs of defending Europe. As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Yatron became a passionate advocate for centering human rights as the cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy. He 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 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 retired in 1992.
He died in Fairfax Station, Virginia and is interred at the Charles Evans Cemetery in Reading, Pennsylvania.
See also
Notes
- "Pennsylvania State Senate - Constantine Gus Yatron Biography". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- "Pennsylvania House of Representatives - GUS YATRON Biography". www.legis.state.pa.us. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
- "Gus Yatron". www.findagrave.com. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
Sources
- United States Congress. "Gus Yatron (id: Y000014)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
- Appearances on C-SPAN
U.S. House of Representatives | ||
---|---|---|
Preceded byGeorge M. Rhodes | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 6th congressional district 1969–1993 |
Succeeded byTim Holden |
- 1927 births
- 2003 deaths
- 20th-century American politicians
- American male boxers
- American people of Greek descent
- Boxers from Pennsylvania
- Burials at Charles Evans Cemetery
- Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives
- Kutztown University of Pennsylvania alumni
- Members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
- Members of the United States House of Representatives from Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Democrats
- Pennsylvania state senators
- Politicians from Reading, Pennsylvania
- School board members in Pennsylvania