After many delays, new federal courthouse opens

Rush H. Limbaugh III signs an autograph before touring the Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. Federal Courthouse in Cape Girardeau. Behind him is his cousin, U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr. (FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com ) [Order this photo]

At the end of a ceremony that mixed personal remembrance of Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. and allusions to the difficulties of constructing the building named in his honor, family members and dignitaries cut the ribbon at Cape Girardeau's new federal courthouse.

The project is now officially complete, nearly 15 years after the first federal appropriation of $3.8 million for design and land acquisition. The Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. Federal Courthouse, built at a final cost of more than $62 million, was opened for business in June.

Monday's ceremony brought together family members — U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr., grandson of the building's namesake, gave the keynote speech — as well as federal, state and local officials who worked on the project.

"We had challenges, but the challenges were overcome," said Bradley Scott, regional administrator for the U.S. General Services Administration, which oversaw the construction.

The building is a fitting tribute to Limbaugh, said his son, retired U.S. District Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Sr.

His expressed hope is that his father's devotion to the law will inspire the lawyers who practice there. Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. was recognized at the time of his death at age 104 in 1996 as the oldest practicing lawyer in the United States.

But being tireless at his desk in the law firm wasn't his father's only contribution to the legal profession or his community, Limbaugh Sr. noted in his remarks. He said he hired the first woman to practice law in Cape Girardeau, was a member of the first Missouri Commission on Human Rights and was recruited by the Eisenhower Administration to lecture in India on constitutional law.

"He lived it, he breathed it," Limbaugh Sr. said. "He loved it, and it was his virtual life."

As he spoke of his grandfather, Stephen Limbaugh Jr. recalled his work ethic, which kept him at his desk six days a week almost to the end of his life, and his example of respect for others and clients, regardless of their ability to pay.

"He taught the course in civility like he taught the course in work ethic — by his own example," Limbaugh Jr. said. "He was an old-time gentleman lawyer who was unfailingly courteous and gracious, yet those traits never kept him from being a zealous and forceful advocate for his clients."

Limbaugh will be the first federal judge who will have a primary assignment to Cape Girardeau. He noted during his speech that he is the first resident federal judge working out of a courthouse named by Congress after his grandfather.

Speakers at the ceremony included Jim Williams, top administrator of the U.S. General Services Administration, Mayor Jay Knudtson, U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, U.S. District Judge Catherine Perry and Chief Judge James Loken of the U.S. Eighth District Court of Appeals. U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill sent a letter that was read during the ceremony.

Others on hand included four members of the Missouri Supreme Court, including Chief Justice Laura Denvir Stith, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, radio host Rush Limbaugh III and numerous members of the Limbaugh family.

The GSA's Scott, the master of ceremonies, made light of the difficulties finishing the project. The first concrete measures to build the new courthouse took place in 1993, when then-U.S. representative Bill Emerson secured $3.8 million for design and land acquisition.

On Monday, standing in front of the three-courtroom, 173,392 square-foot building originally projected to cost $30 million, Scott felt it was time to make light of the delays. When the construction appropriation was approved in 2002, the cost had grown to $49.3 million.

The first designs called for an open atrium without air conditioning, among other items that raised objections.

The reaction from members of Congress, Scott recalled was "'We don't like that design. Start over.' And guess what? We did. At any rate, I don't want to go into the travails. But let me just say it is a great honor serving the community of Cape Girardeau and including the community of Cape Girardeau in the design, including them as we constructed the project, and answering the calls of Sen. Bond and Congresswoman Emerson. And answering the calls to their staff. And answering every call at all hours, morning noon and night until we delivered this courthouse."

Bond, Emerson and the entire audience joined in the laughter. But the delays in the building project — a late recognition that seismic safety required 170 concrete piers to steady the structure as well as problems late in the project that included a faulty roof and a damaged elevator — also required Bond and Emerson to seek additional funding to finish the building.

"This was a challenge to get it funded, and it was a challenge to get it through GSA," Bond said. "Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want, and everybody got a lot of experience. But it is a magnificent courthouse that does justice to the memory of Rush Limbaugh Sr."

The building incorporates many environmentally friendly features and conforms to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards. Environmental features include plug-in stations for electric cars, use of 10 percent recycled content and 20 percent locally manufactured materials.

The result was worth the wait, Emerson said after the ceremony. "It has been a long time but they did a good job. They finally did a good job."

rkeller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126

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Guests walk over for tours of the Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr. Federal Courthouse in Cape Girardeau (FRED LYNCH ~ flynch@semissourian.com) [Order this photo]

Remembering Rush H. Limbaugh Sr.

• Federal courthouse letters missing due to replacement, not theft
• After series of delays, first legal hearing in new courthouse held Monday
• Federal courthouse building could be ready by early June
• Design, construction deficiencies push courthouse opening back to spring
• New federal courthouse expected to open in early August
• New courthouse "substantially complete"
• Opening of new federal courthouse pushed back to August
• U.S. House approves Limbaugh name for federal courthouse building in Cape
• Courthouse scheduled to open in April
• Bill names courthouse for Limbaugh Sr.
• Federal courthouse building 60 percent done

After nearly two decades and more than $62 million in construction costs, the Rush H. Limbaugh Sr. Federal Courthouse in Cape Girardeau was dedicated Monday. The major steps in the completion of the project were:
* 1991: U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson requests a feasibility study for a new federal courthouse for Cape Girardeau.
* September 1993: Congress appropriates $3.8 million for site acquisition and design work on a new federal courthouse.
* Jan. 27, 1994: The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approves spending the $3.8 million appropriation.
* August 1995: The U.S. General Services Administration designates a 15-block area from Spanish Street to Sprigg Street between Independence and Bellevue streets as the preferred location for the new courthouse. Estimates place the cost of the new courthouse at about $30 million.
* Feb. 1, 1996: About 170 people take part in a public hearing about proposed courthouse sites. Due to opposition from residents, the area to be studied is reduced by two blocks to a six-block area.
* March 12, 1996: About 100 people attend a public hearing called by city government to discuss the proposed courthouse. Many support using the site of the old Saint Francis hospital at 825 Good Hope St.
* March 18, 1996: The Cape Girardeau City Council endorses three possible sites — the old Saint Francis hospital, the “Happy Hollow” area, a former dump site west of city hall, and the 400 block of Broadway.
* April 8, 1996: The U.S. General Services Administration announces that it prefers the Happy Hollow site because the land is empty, is centrally located and has good access to planned highway improvements. President Clinton includes design funding in the 1998 federal budget, with construction possibly beginning in 2000.
* Feb. 26, 1997: GSA officials announce land acquisition and other activity related to the federal courthouse project are on hold because of budget constraints.
* June 1998: U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson requests a $2 million appropriation for design work on the new courthouse. The GSA has been doing preliminary site evaluations to ensure no environmental issues are present at the Happy Hollow site.
* July 17, 1998: U.S. Sen. Kit Bond secures $2.2 million for design and planning the federal courthouse. The GSA reports later in the week that a cleanup of gasoline contamination at the site will cost about $250,000. The project’s total cost is estimated at $40 million.
* April 28, 1999: A hearing held by GSA officials finds support for the Happy Hollow site.
* Jan. 4, 2000: GSA announces plans to hire an architect for the courthouse project.
* Feb. 4, 2000: GSA announces acceptance of the Happy Hollow site.
* May 10, 2000: Ross Barney & Jankowski, a Chicago architectural firm, is hired to design the courthouse. Plans call for a fall 2001 unveiling of the design and a spring 2002 construction start date.
* May 24, 2001: Architecture firm fired after the federal Office of Management and Budget scales back the project to a single-courtroom courthouse, rather than one with three courtrooms. The architecture firm, which had been paid nearly $500,000, had also suggested an atrium with an open top and no air conditioning, an idea rejected by Emerson.
* Oct. 4, 2001: The courthouse project is back on track, with three courtrooms and air conditioning for the atrium. The GSA decides to go with a design-build project to speed construction. Emerson and Bond promise to seek full funding for the courthouse, which now has a 2005 projected opening date.
* June 26, 2002: A House appropriations subcommittee approves $49.3 million for construction of the courthouse. GSA officials predict it could be ready by February 2006.
* July 29, 2002: State, federal and local officials join in a ceremony to recognize the start of site preparation for the courthouse.
* Feb. 14, 2003: $49.3 million approved for construction of courthouse.
* March 8, 2003: Contract awarded for construction of courthouse. Completion date of early 2006 projected.
* July 18, 2003: Artist’s design for new courthouse unveiled.
* Feb. 28, 2004: Construction begins. Completion projected in December 2005; opening projected in April 2006.
* Oct. 15, 2004: Interior work halted on project as expected costs increase $4 million above budget because of rising steel prices. Delays expected to push opening back to September 2006.
* December 2005: Work on the exterior of the building is completed. Contracts being considered for interior work.
* Feb. 7, 2006: Interior work begins. GSA officials project a December 2006 opening.
* Sept. 7, 2006: U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson introduces legislation naming the courthouse after Rush H. Limbaugh Sr.
* Jan. 3, 2007: Interior work is 90 percent complete, GSA officials said, predicting that the courthouse would be ready for occupancy by April.
* April 14, 2007: Brad Scott, regional administrator, said mistakes in wall coverings and carpeting will push the opening date back to July or August.
* July 2007: Vandals steal letters from brick and concrete monument outside courthouse.
* Aug. 3, 2007: Federal officials reveal numerous problems with the new courthouse, including an inadequate roof, cost overruns and construction damage. The new projected cost is $62 million, and a new opening projection of spring 2008 is announced.
* Feb. 21, 2008: GSA officials announce work will begin on repairing deficiencies in the building. They project a May opening.
* March 23, 2008: Evaluations after the record-breaking rainstorm show additional work needed on courthouse roof. GSA officials hope for May move-in.
* June 2, 2008: First hearings held in new courthouse.
* Oct. 6, 2008: Formal dedication of courthouse.

The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, use the exclamation point icon beside the comment to send a report to the webmaster.

fbref36 - I think you mean his grandson, try not to let your hate negate generations. Now....go cash your welfare check.

See, I can malign people I don't know and never will too. Thanks for the example.

-- Posted by jakebanzai on Tue, Oct 7, 2008, 9:57 pm CDT

fbref36,

I'm sure Sr. was a great guy. However, the last poster is right; his son's a disgusting scumbag. Entertaining, yes. Scumbag, without a doubt.

-- Posted by R.D. on Tue, Oct 7, 2008, 9:05 pm CDT

Does anyboody really believe that the name of the Courthouse is supposed to evoke memories of Limbaugh Sr., and not his fat scumbag namesake (as conveniently seen in the photo)?

-- Posted by heye1967 on Tue, Oct 7, 2008, 7:20 pm CDT

Was anybody besides card carrying Republicans invited to this event?

-- Posted by TheCamp on Tue, Oct 7, 2008, 1:25 pm CDT

Despite the outstanding honor, having the new Federal Courthouse named for Mr. Rush H. Limbaugh, doesn't do this gentleman justice. This man was probably the most amazing man I have met outside of my family. I remember visiting his office and him talking with me on a level I could understand at my young age. He always had a smile, handshake, a hello for me everytime I visited my mother at work. He was a very special influence on my life and I try to use his values of honesty, respectfulness, and kindness in my everyday life. Again an outstanding honor and I wish he could have seen it in person, to say that everything was being overdone.

-- Posted by fbref36 on Tue, Oct 7, 2008, 9:22 am CDT

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