Federal Building, Courthouse Named for William M. Steger
By CASEY KNAUPP
Staff Writer
Dignitaries gathered at the federal courthouse in Tyler today for a ceremony naming it the William M. Steger Federal Building and United States Courthouse.
Staff Writer
Dignitaries gathered at the federal courthouse in Tyler today for a ceremony naming it the William M. Steger Federal Building and United States Courthouse.
After several elected officials and federal judges spoke about the late U.S. district judge, his wife Ann Steger thanked the crowd of more than 300 people for making the event possible. She helped unveil the monument with the courthouse’s new name.
If we could tell “Bill” about this today, he would say, “really?” she said. He would say he was only doing his job, she added.
Mrs. Steger said she spoke for her husband when she expressed his profound gratitude, and she said he would be overwhelmed with the honor.
“He loved the law and he loved this building,” she said, adding that he spent more than 45 years in the building during his legal career. She said he had great respect for his beautiful courtroom, which to him represented justice, duty, honor, country, faithfulness, mercy and compassion.
Steger served as federal judge in East Texas for more than 35 years. He died June 4, 2006, at age 85.
Reps. Ralph Hall and Louie Gohmert co-sponsored the bill renaming the courthouse after Steger.
Hall called Steger a “great American jurist.” He said naming the building after him would ensure that Steger’s legacy would live on long after we’re gone.
Gohmert said Steger was a “true patriotic hero” who had a commitment to and love of fairness. “He was an inspiration,” he said. “He still is.”
“We are here today to pay tribute to a great American ... a pillar to the great generation … a federal district judge to the highest caliber,” U.S. District Chief Judge Thad Heartfield said.
The greatest tribute that can be paid to Steger, he said, was to see the warm and proud smile of the love of his life — Ann Steger. Heartfield said Friday was as much her day as it was Steger’s.
Senior U.S. District Judge Paul Brown said Steger was his closest friend for more than 50 years, and he had the pleasure of serving as his colleague. He said Steger had a strong love for the law and for his family and he has left a wonderful legacy.
Tyler attorney Matt Flanery, who was a law clerk for Steger for seven years, said the judge was a great historian and he talked of the many stories the judge shared with him. Steger accomplished many great things, he said, choking up.
Dr. Rodney Mabry, president of The University of Texas at Tyler, said Steger’s papers, including legal briefs, opinions and cases he tried, were given to UT Tyler and the archives were an important gift for research.
Steger presided over more than 15,000 cases in his 35 years on the bench.
Scott Armey, regional administrator for the U.S. General Services Administration, said the most important part of his duty was government landmarks, such as the federal courthouse. He said it was a great honor for Steger and for the building.
Tyler attorney and former law clerk to Steger, Andy Tindel, was master of ceremonies at the event attended by the federal judges in the Eastern District.
Senior U.S. District Judge Paul Brown said Steger was his closest friend for more than 50 years, and he had the pleasure of serving as his colleague. He said Steger had a strong love for the law and for his family and he has left a wonderful legacy.
Tyler attorney Matt Flanery, who was a law clerk for Steger for seven years, said the judge was a great historian and he talked of the many stories the judge shared with him. Steger accomplished many great things, he said, choking up.
Dr. Rodney Mabry, president of The University of Texas at Tyler, said Steger’s papers, including legal briefs, opinions and cases he tried, were given to UT Tyler and the archives were an important gift for research.
Steger presided over more than 15,000 cases in his 35 years on the bench.
Scott Armey, regional administrator for the U.S. General Services Administration, said the most important part of his duty was government landmarks, such as the federal courthouse. He said it was a great honor for Steger and for the building.
Tyler attorney and former law clerk to Steger, Andy Tindel, was master of ceremonies at the event attended by the federal judges in the Eastern District.
STEGER’S LIFE
While Steger was studying pre-law, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and within 24 hours of the attack, the 21-year-old had withdrawn from Baylor University and volunteered for service. The Dallas native had always wanted to become a pilot and on Nov. 9, 1942, he got his wings. After training he was sent to Casablanca and flew 56 combat missions. After fighting for his country the captain trained pilots and tested the first U.S. jet airplanes in Florida. He received an air medal and four oak leaf clusters for his service.
Steger’s ambition to become a lawyer influenced him to give up flying. He went back to school and received his degree from Southern Methodist University Law School. He married his wife on Valentine’s Day in 1948. They had one child, the late Merritt Reed Steger.
Steger engaged in private practice in Longview and Tyler and headed some East Texas campaign clubs for Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidency. After the election, Eisenhower appointed Steger in 1953 to the position of U.S. attorney for East Texas. After six years, he resigned and returned to private practice, handling mostly oil and gas litigation.
In 1960, he was persuaded to run for governor. At that time, the Republican and Democratic parties were required to hold a primary election if they had more than 200,000 votes in the prior election. The Republican Party had never received enough votes to hold a primary as the Democrats did. Steger said he knew he wouldn’t get close to winning the race but hoped he would get 200,000 votes so the Republican Party could hold a primary in the next election — he received more than 600,000 votes. Steger’s candidacy allowed the GOP to have its first primary election.
In 1962, Steger ran for Congress and received 49 percent of the vote. He beat his opponent in the primary but lacked about 1,300 votes to beat his Democratic opponent, the incumbent, he said. In the ’60s, he was the Republican state chairman for Texas.
Steger became a judge in December 1970 after President Richard Nixon nominated him. Steger began his judgeship presiding in Beaumont, also holding court in Paris, Texarkana, Sherman and Marshall. He moved to the Tyler courthouse in 1978. In 1987, Steger assumed senior active status duty, but still handled a full docket.
Steger’s ambition to become a lawyer influenced him to give up flying. He went back to school and received his degree from Southern Methodist University Law School. He married his wife on Valentine’s Day in 1948. They had one child, the late Merritt Reed Steger.
Steger engaged in private practice in Longview and Tyler and headed some East Texas campaign clubs for Dwight D. Eisenhower’s presidency. After the election, Eisenhower appointed Steger in 1953 to the position of U.S. attorney for East Texas. After six years, he resigned and returned to private practice, handling mostly oil and gas litigation.
In 1960, he was persuaded to run for governor. At that time, the Republican and Democratic parties were required to hold a primary election if they had more than 200,000 votes in the prior election. The Republican Party had never received enough votes to hold a primary as the Democrats did. Steger said he knew he wouldn’t get close to winning the race but hoped he would get 200,000 votes so the Republican Party could hold a primary in the next election — he received more than 600,000 votes. Steger’s candidacy allowed the GOP to have its first primary election.
In 1962, Steger ran for Congress and received 49 percent of the vote. He beat his opponent in the primary but lacked about 1,300 votes to beat his Democratic opponent, the incumbent, he said. In the ’60s, he was the Republican state chairman for Texas.
Steger became a judge in December 1970 after President Richard Nixon nominated him. Steger began his judgeship presiding in Beaumont, also holding court in Paris, Texarkana, Sherman and Marshall. He moved to the Tyler courthouse in 1978. In 1987, Steger assumed senior active status duty, but still handled a full docket.
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