Mr. Troupe, a Democrat, served in the Missouri House of Representatives for 16 years - from 1954 to 1960 and from 1962 to 1972. He was the first African American member of the Missouri House since Reconstruction. Part of that time, he was chairman of the legislative black caucus. He was Democratic committeeman of the 5th Ward in St. Louis from 1958 to 1976.
He was commissioner for the St. Louis Public Housing Authority from 1951 to 1954. While in the Legislature, he worked on bills and issues affecting public-housing tenants.
He was a business representative of the United Steelworkers of America from 1956 to 1974. He retired from that job in 1974.
U.S. Rep. William L. Clay, D-St. Louis, said Mr. Troupe had "made great contributions to politics and to the labor movement. He was a fine man who was well-respected in the community."
He died in January 1994.
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