Congres Cuts a Deal on StL ”Stan Span’, It Gets 2 Names June 26, 2013

—————–
Post-Dispatch:
ST. LOUIS • Perhaps it was inevitable that two states that have been at odds over the new Interstate 70 bridge spanning the Mississippi River would spar over what to name it.

Missouri lawmakers wasted little time voting to name the Missouri half of the new four-lane bridge for the beloved late Cardinals great, Stan “the Man” Musial. Illinois lawmakers have gotten behind naming it for military veterans. Trouble is that both states have to agree on one name.

On Tuesday, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a compromise moniker aimed at satisfying both states: the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge.

“The St. Louis Cardinals are one of the most storied and successful first-rate franchises in sports history, and the best player to ever don the St. Louis Cardinal uniform was Stan ‘the Man’ Musial,” said Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Ill., who came up with the compromise.

Off the field, Davis said, Musial led by example. In 1945, Musial took a year during the prime of his career to serve in the. Navy during World War II.

“Today, lets honor our veterans and Stan ‘the Man’ Musial,” he said.

Several members of the Illinois and Missouri congressional delegation backed the proposed name.

Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-St. Louis, was a chief sponsor along with Davis of the legislation.

“I’m proud to name it after Stan Musial not just because of what he did on the field, but off the field, too,” Clay said before Tuesday’s floor session. “He stood up to the racists and the ignorance of the 1940s and put his arms around people like Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Ernie Banks and demonstrated that they were human beings, too.”

Illinois Balks at Naming ‘Stan Span’, Blame Cub Fans May 2, 2013

Musial

(AP) – Bickering between Missouri and Illinois over how to fund a new Mississippi River bridge in St. Louis stalled the $670 million project for years.

Now, the two states are at odds over what to name the span that’s expected to open next year.

The Illinois House unanimously voted this week in favor of a resolution to dub the Interstate 70 span the Veterans Memorial Bridge.

But Missouri lawmakers and key members of Congress from both states think the bridge should bear the name of late St. Louis Cardinals icon Stan “The Man” Musial.

Musial, a seven-time batting champion and three-time MVP, died in January at the age of 92. The Hall of Famer and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient also served in the Navy in World War II.

‘Stan Span’ Advances February 21, 2013

Post Dispatch:
The Missouri Senate has given first-round approval to legislation that aims to name the new I-70 Mississippi River bridge for famed Cardinal Stan Musial.

“Bridges, at the heart of it, they connect people, they bring them together, and I think that’s a fitting tribute for ‘Stan the Man’ Musial,” said Sen. Eric Schmitt, a Republican from Glendale who is sponsoring the legislation.

Musial, 92, died Jan. 19 at his home in Ladue. Shortly thereafter, a movement grew to name the bridge after the seven-time National League batting champion. The bridge is expected to open next year.

The naming effort needs approval from both the Missouri Legislature and Illinois Legislature.

In Missouri, the effort needs another vote in the Senate and approval from the House.
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/elizabeth-crisp/missouri-senate-gives-first-ok-to-naming-new-mississippi-river/article_fcc0bc80-7f07-5cc3-b134-96762617932f.html

McCaskill, Nixon, Durbin of Illinois, Push for ‘Stan Span’ January 24, 2013

Musial

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Stan Musial already has a statue in St. Louis named after him. If state and federal lawmakers get their way, a new Mississippi River bridge also will carry the name of the St. Louis Cardinals great.

Democratic Sens. Claire McCaskill, of Missouri, and Dick Durbin, of Illinois, proposed legislation Wednesday that would name the new bridge the Stan Musial Memorial Bridge — some are already dubbing it the “Stan Span.” The bridge carrying Interstate 70 traffic is expected to open in 2014. Missouri Governor jay Nixon also supports the idea.

Musial, a three-time MVP and seven-time National League batting champion who spent all 22 seasons of his career with the Cardinals, died Saturday after several years of declining health. He was 92.

“The respect and devotion that people have for Stan Musial has more to do with his character than his swing,” McCaskill said in a phone interview. “His swing was amazing, a unique thing of beauty, but it was the man that made a lot of decisions in his life that just reflect the kind of values that we all want as Americans.”

KMOX Radio polled several fans at last week’s Cardinals Winter Warmup and there was virtually unanimous support for naming the bridge for Musial. Two Missouri state senators — Republicans Eric Schmitt and John Lamping, both of St. Louis County — introduced identical bills Tuesday in Jefferson City to name the bridge for Musial. Illinois lawmakers also would have to approve the name. McCaskill figures they would.

“As most St. Louisans know, folks that live on the Illinois side of the St. Louis region are by and large Cardinals fans,” McCaskill said. “They aren’t cheering for the Cubs. I think it (naming the bridge) is something that unites the two states.”

Name the New StL Bridge for ‘Stan the Man’? January 23, 2013

Musial

(AP) – A campaign to name a new Mississippi River bridge at St. Louis for the late Cardinals great Stan Musial is already gaining momentum.
Musial died Saturday at age 92 and will be laid to rest this week. The career Cardinal and Hall of Famer hit .331 in a 22-season major league career.
The bridge carrying Interstate 70 over the Mississippi between downtown St. Louis and Illinois is scheduled to open in 2014.
Two Missouri state senators introduced identical bills Tuesday to name it the Stan Musial Memorial Bridge. The sponsors are Eric Schmitt and John Lamping, both Republicans from St. Louis County.
Illinois lawmakers would also have to approve the naming legislation.