The United States Federal Building and Courthouse in Tuscaloosa will be renamed after retired U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Tuscaloosa) on Friday.
Construction on the facility was completed in 2011 at a cost of $48 million and funded with federal earmarks from Shelby.
According to the Tuscaloosa News, a ceremony for the renaming will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday inside the courthouse. Shelby plans to attend along with Gov. Kay Ivey, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and other officials. Also among those planning to attend the ceremony are Chief Judge L. Scott Coogler; Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, Alabama attorney; Chief Judge William H. Pryor, Jr., U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit; and Jason Shelton, Southeast Sunbelt Regional Administrator, U.S. General Services Administration.
The bill to change the building's name was signed by President Joe Biden in March 2022, according to the Tuscaloosa News
Shelby earmarked $10 million for the University of Alabama (UA) to create a “public service and leadership institute.” The institute was later named after Shelby by the university’s board in February.
The board used $100 million of federal funding earmarked by Shelby in the 2022 omnibus spending package to create an endowment also in Shelby’s name: The Shelby Endowment for Distinguished Faculty.
Shelby was Alabama’s longest-serving U.S. Senator.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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