[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 5 (Wednesday, January 10, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S386-S387]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BOND:
  S. 247. A bill to designate the United States courthouse located at 
555 Independence Street, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, as the ``Rush Hudson 
Limbaugh, Sr. United States Courthouse''; to the

[[Page S387]]

Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. BOND. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
designating the new Federal Courthouse in Cape Girardeau, MO. as the 
Rush Hudson Limbaugh, Sr. United States Courthouse.
  When people talk about the American Dream, the ``Spirit of America'' 
and the people who helped make this country great, all one really has 
to do is mention the name of the late Rush Hudson Limbaugh Sr.
  Mr. Limbaugh led an extraordinary life in which he practiced law for 
almost 80 years until his death at age 104 in 1996. At the time of his 
death, Mr. Limbaugh was the Nation's oldest practicing lawyer and still 
came into work about twice a week at the law firm he founded over 50 
years before in Cape Girardeau, MO.
  Known by his peers as a superb trial lawyer with impeccable character 
and integrity, he was a beloved icon of the Missouri legal community, 
especially in Southeast Missouri where he lived all his life.
  Born in 1891, on a small farm in rural Bollinger County, he was the 
youngest of eight children and attended school in a one room primary 
school house. It is said that a passion for the law first developed in 
Rush as a 10-year-old boy when a Daniel Webster Oration that he 
memorized inspired him to become a lawyer. Fourteen years later, he 
began a legal career that lasted eight decades. Throughout those 80 
years, his interest in the law and his dedication to his clients never 
wavered.
  Rush paid his way through college at the University of Missouri at 
Columbia by working on the university farm and doing odd jobs such as 
carpentry, firing up furnaces, caring for animals and waiting tables. 
While in college, his oratory skills won him awards which he later 
utilized with great success in the courtroom.
  In 1914, he entered law school, and after two years, he skipped the 
third year and passed the Missouri Bar examination. In 1916, he was 
admitted into the Missouri Bar and his long distinguished legal career 
began in Cape Girardeau.
  Over his career, Rush argued more than 60 cases in front of the 
Missouri Supreme Court along with many prominent civil cases. He was a 
specialist in probate law and helped draft the 1955 Probate Code of 
Missouri. He also tried cases before the Interstate Commerce 
Commission, the U.S. Labor Board and the Internal Revenue Appellate 
Division.
  From 1955 through 1956, he was President of the Missouri Bar and 
later served as President of the State Historical Society of Missouri. 
In addition to this, Mr. Limbaugh was a leading member of numerous 
legal and civic organizations including the American Bar Association, 
the Missouri Bar Foundation, the Missouri Human Rights Commission, the 
Cape Girardeau Board of Education and the Salvation Army Advisory Board
  However, Rush's contributions were not just limited to Missouri. In 
the late 1950's, Rush served as a U.S. State Department special envoy 
to India where he promoted American jurisprudence and constitutional 
government among lawyers, judges and university students in that newly 
formed country. And in the 1960's, he served as Chairman of the 
American Bar Association's special committee on the Bill of Rights.
  Rush was truly an inspiration and mentor to many aspiring lawyers, 
especially the ones in his own family. His two sons, Rush Jr. and 
Steven, both practiced law with him for many years. His son, Steven N. 
Limbaugh, currently serves as a Senior Federal Judge in St. Louis. Four 
of his grandsons followed in his footsteps and pursued legal careers 
including his grandson Steven Jr. who is now a Missouri Supreme Court 
Justice.
  Perhaps the best measure of Rush Hudson Limbaugh' legacy as a lawyer 
and as a human being comes from the praise and admiration of his peers 
in the legal community. ``A top notch all-around lawyer; the epitome of 
what a lawyer ought to be said one colleague. ``A legend in his time,'' 
said another.
  However, his grandson Steven may have offered the best possible 
description of this great citizen: ``He was an extraordinary man, 
exemplary in every way, yet very humble. He was a lawyer's lawyer, a 
community servant and a gentle and kind man whose family was the very 
center of his life.''
  It is only fitting that the new Federal courthouse in Cape Girardeau, 
Missouri be named after this great hero of American Jurisprudence.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of this bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 247

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. RUSH HUDSON LIMBAUGH, SR. UNITED STATES 
                   COURTHOUSE.

       (a) Designation.--The United States courthouse located at 
     555 Independence Street, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, shall be 
     known and designated as the ``Rush Hudson Limbaugh, Sr. 
     United States Courthouse''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     United States courthouse referred to in subsection (a) shall 
     be deemed to be a reference to the ``Rush Hudson Limbaugh, 
     Sr. United States Courthouse''.
                                 ______