Sidney R. Yates (August 27, 1909 - October 5, 2000) was a politician from the state of Illinois. Yates was born in Chicago, Illinois and he graduated from the University of Chicago. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. From 1949 to 1963 and 1965 to 1999, Yates served in the House of Representatives as a Democrat. Yates was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate in 1962. At his retirement, he was the oldest person ever to serve in the House.