Prison warden among crowd at inauguration

By MARIDEE LAWSON

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 3:06 PM CST

Parkland residents Al Luebbers (left) and Pat Smith wait in line Monday in Jefferson City to congratulate Gov. Jay Nixon. The two were among hundreds willing to wait nearly two hours to get into the Governor's Mansion. - Paula Barr / Daily Journal

A very proud Farmington resident attended the governor’s inauguration earlier this week.

Al Luebbers serves the warden at the Farmington Correctional Center and has known Governor Jeremiah “Jay” Nixon since the early 1970’s. The reason he attended the Inauguration, he later said, was a personal one.

“I have known Jay Nixon for many years. He and my sister went to school together in DeSoto and we grew up together. I am very excited to have attended and very proud of him,” said Luebbers on Tuesday.

The local man arrived in Jefferson City during the inauguration parade, but was able to later see Nixon be sworn in as the 55th governor of the state. He also was able to speak with Nixon during the busy day and later attended the Governor’s Ball.

“It was neat to see the swearing in, Nixon and his wife Georganne standing at the top of the stairs, but the best was being able to talk and congratulate him on what he has done,” Luebbers added. “Its also neat to have someone from a small town like DeSoto to become governor and I believe he will give 110 percent to the job.”

While Nixon was Attorney General for Missouri, Luebbers dealt with his office through his work with the prison system. Because of their jobs the two men have been able to stay in touch with each other through the years.

Luebbers attended the inaugural ceremony with former co-worker Pat Smith. She served as warden at the Bonne Terre prison before retiring. Smith and Luebbers also worked at the Potosi Correctional Center together.

Monday marked Luebbers first time to attend an inauguration for the governor of Missouri and he said he enjoyed every moment of the event.

Farmington Mayor Jeannie Roberts also attended with her sister, Mitzie Detjen. “It just gives me a thrill,” Roberts told a reporter at the inauguration.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Laura Denvir Stith administered the oath of office to Nixon at noon on the south lawn of the Missouri Capital Building. And Nixon wasn’t the only state official to take the oath. Other statewide office holders were sworn in prior to Nixon beginning at 11:15 a.m. The group included Attorney General Chris Koster, Treasurer Clint Zweifel, Secretary of State Robin Carnahan and Lt. Governor Peter Kinder.

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