Cape officials honor late Andy Juden Jr.

Cape Girardeau city officials honored the late Andy Juden Jr. on Friday afternoon at the Merriwether Street Pump Station he managed for decades.

Mayor Harry Rediger told the crowd of about 30 people, including many of Juden’s relatives, “We are here to honor a man who loved Cape Girardeau.”

Relatives of the late Andy Juden Jr. gathered at the Merriwether Street Pumping Station for the unveiling of a model of a signboard that will be installed in honor of Juden's work as founder of the Main Street Levee District. Pictured from left are Drew Juden, Jill Pigott, Debbie Juden, David Juden and assistant Public Works director Stan Polivick.MARK BLISS

Rediger said Juden’s name was synonymous with the Mississippi River.

“We are here to honor his service,” the mayor said before announcing the pump station will be named after Juden.

City officials unveiled a model of a signboard that will be installed outside the pump station. The signboard will tell the story of Juden’s accomplishments as founder and president of the Main Street Levee District.

Rediger said Juden served the levee district for about 50 years.

“When we were in need, it was always Andy Juden who accomplished the task,” the mayor said.

He said Juden and his levee-district crew would spend countless hours operating the pumping station during times of high water.

Family members who attended the ceremony included Juden’s sister, Jill Pigott, and his sons, Drew and David Juden.

Drew Juden said his father was dedicated to the operation of the pumping station that pumped stormwater to the river side of the Mississippi River floodwall.

“Without this, there wouldn’t be a downtown Cape Girardeau,” he said, explaining downtown would have been flooded during heavy rains.

Pigott called the ceremony “very moving.” She said her brother was “very fond of the crews that worked here with him.”

Juden retired from the levee district when the city assumed the task of running the pumping station in 2008.

Juden’s father was a prominent downtown business owner who was instrumental in the development and maintenance of the floodwall. Juden succeeded his father as president of the levee district in 1965.

Juden, the great-grandson of local railroad magnate Louis Houck, helped preserve the family’s role in Cape Girardeau history by donating Houck’s letters, records and papers to Southeast Missouri State University.

Juden died Aug. 28, 2014.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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Pertinent address:

South Main Street, Cape Girardeau, Mo.