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Federal Building and Courthouse Renamed for Director Lee Hamilton

A federal building in New Albany, Indiana was renamed this month after Wilson Center Director Lee Hamilton, a former congressman who represented Southern Indiana for more than 3 decades.

A new black granite and limestone sign identifies the building as the Lee H. Hamilton Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse. The recent unveiling of the sign was the culmination of an effort that began two years ago in the Indiana General Assembly with a resolution sponsored by Reps. William Cochran, D-New Albany, and James Bottorff, D-Jeffersonville, urging Congress to bestow the honor on Hamilton.

Last fall, Congress approved the legislation which was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Baron Hill, who succeeded Hamilton, and Indiana's U.S. Senators Richard Lugar and Evan Bayh.

"Congressman Hamilton served Hoosiers with distinction in the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years. During his long tenure in office, he was widely respected for his powerful intellect and impressive knowledge of foreign affairs, and remains to this day, one of our nation's foremost experts on foreign policy," said Senator Bayh during the introduction of the bill.

During the unveiling ceremony, Hamilton said that no honor could please him more than having his name associated with the federal building.

"The renaming of this building joins my respect and affection for the people of Indiana, and my lifetime interest in making our system of representative government work," he said.

Lee Hamilton became director of the Wilson Center in January 1999. He is also the director of the Center on Congress at Indiana University. Read more about Lee Hamilton.