JEFFERSON CITY — The Missouri General Assembly gave final approval today (5-6) to House Bill 303, handled by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, in the Missouri Senate. The bill names the new Mississippi River Bridge in St. Louis after Cardinals legend, Stan “The Man” Musial, among other provisions. Musial passed away in January at the age of 92.
Under the bill, the new Mississippi River Bridge, technically known as the I-70 interstate bridge, would be named the “Stan Musial Memorial Bridge.” The bridge is slated to open to traffic in 2014.
Senator Schmitt has led the effort to name the new bridge after Musial, who broke numerous team records and held the National League record for hits at 3,360 until the early 1980s. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969. A bust of Musial is also in the Hall of Famous Missourians at the state Capitol.
In 1968, a statue of Musial was erected outside of Busch Stadium, which was eventually moved for the new stadium. Inscribed on its base is the quote, “Here stands baseball’s perfect warrior. Here stands baseball’s perfect knight.”
“Stan Musial was the type of person who brought others together, so it’s particularly fitting we name a bridge in his honor,” said Sen. Schmitt. “He was the kind of role-model and celebrity you don’t see very often anymore. He was humble and selfless and welcoming to everyone he met. He was dedicated to St. Louis and his community throughout his life. I was happy to see my colleagues join me in making sure his legacy lives on.”
Click here to listen to Sen. Schmitt call for a moment of silence on the Senate floor in honor of Stan “The Man” Musial.
For more information on Sen. Schmitt’s legislation, visit his Senate webpage at www.senate.mo.gov/schmitt.
|
