Federal Building Renamed for Former Congressman Bill Lipinski

On June 29^th, the Federal Railroad Retirement Board Building at 844 N. Rush St., Chicago was officially rechristened the Bill O. Lipinski Federal Building, in honor of the former U.S. Representative and longtime Western Springs resident.

Elected in 1982, Congressman Lipinski (a conservative “Blue Dog” Democrat) spent more than two decades in Congress as the representative from Chicago’s 3^rd district, most of them on the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

His legacy in transportation can be seen throughout Chicago (the Create Program, the Orange Line, improvements to both Chicago airports, $800 million in Metra/CTA funding) and nationally (the creation of the TSA and multiple laws regulating air travel.)

The now-named William O. Lipinski Building was built in 1923 and bought by the federal government in 1942. It is the only national headquarters of any federal agency located in Chicago. Along with the Railroad Retirement Board, it houses a car dealership and a restaurant.

Lipinski said the naming was a work two years in progress, since former Rep. James Oberstar introduced the legislation in 2009. President Obama signed it into law on Oct. 29 of that year.

“It’s a great testimonial to people who I worked with over the course of the years who aided and assisted me with getting things accomplished in the fields of infrastructure and transportation development,” said Lipinski.

“If it had not been for many people, I would not have accomplished the things that I have, and I was very happy that so many of the people I worked with over the years were there [at the ceremony.]”

The ceremony was attended by, among other notables, former Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and Illinois State House Speaker Michael Madigan, who both delivered speeches. A bronze plaque listing Lipinski’s accomplishments in transportation infrastructure will be installed in the building’s lobby.

Lipinski retired from Congress in 2005, turning his seat over to his son Dan, also a Western Springs resident. The elder Lipinski lives in Forest Hills; the younger in Springdale. Bill Lipinski’s daughter, Laura Broeking, also lives in Forest Hills with her husband Jim and two boys, Brian and Conor.

The former congressman also offered a shout-out to his wife of 49 years, Rose Marie.

“No one has helped me more in my career,” he said.