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“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Francis R. Slay
the father of Mayor Francis G. Slay and a politician
in his own right, died shortly after 8 a.m. this morning at St.
Anthony’s Medical Center at the age of 83.
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“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The mayor was with his father, who had been suffering from heart disease, an associate said.
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“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The elder Slay had been an alderman, a state legislator and the city’s recorder of deeds. His longest political role was as the committeeman for the city’s 23rd Ward, a post he held for 45 years.
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“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Slay also was a restaurateur, operating Slay’s restaurant for many years with a brother and later overseeing The Cedars in the St. Raymond’s complex. At The Cedars, the elder Slay presided for decades over the city’s unofficial power lunch that took place every Wednesday.
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“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Francis R. Slay and his wife, Anna May, also raised 11 children. Each has a version of “Gerard” in his or her name, in honor of St. Gerard, the patron saint of motherhood. The couple did so after their firstborn died.
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“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Slay was known for his good humor and dogged commitment to Democratic politics. During part of his four-year tenure in the Missouri House, from 1967-71, he served as majority caucus chairman. He was elected the city’s recorder of deeds in 1970 and served eight years.
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“font-size: 10pt; font-family: Verdana;”>“My prayers go out to the Slay family,” said Comptroller Darlene Green. “Francis was a good friend who gave back so much to the St. Louis community. He will be missed by many, but his legacy of public service and charity lives on.”
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“color: black;”>Jason Rosenbaum, a freelance writer, contributed to this article, which is edited and reprinted with permission from a story that appeared on
“http://www.stlbeacon.org/”>www.stlbeacon.org
