City Council approved a measure to rename the Midfield Terminal at Springfield-Branson National Airport to the Roy Blunt Terminal, in honor of U.S. Senator Roy Blunt. The airport will remain named Springfield-Branson National Airport and the call letters, SGF.

The people of southwest Missouri overwhelmingly elected Senator Blunt seven times to the U.S. House of Representatives. Senator Blunt was elected the Majority Whip earlier in his career than any Member of Congress in eight decades, and he was elected to the Senate leadership during his first year in the Senate. Before serving in Congress, he was a history teacher, a Greene County official, and in 1984 became the first Republican elected as Missouri’s Secretary of State in more than 50 years. Senator Blunt also served four years as the president of Southwest Baptist University, his alma mater, in Bolivar, Missouri. Senator Blunt earned an M.A. in history from Missouri State University.

“Senator Blunt has a long legacy of outstanding public service that has benefitted the community greatly,” said Mayor Ken McClure. “Throughout his long political career, he has been a strong advocate for investment in and improvement to our nation’s transportation infrastructure; especially in interstate highways, public transit systems, freight rail, and airports. He has always fought for this region, and his ability to secure funding on everything from roadways to mental health treatment to innovation and entrepreneurship, just to name a few, will be a part of his legacy.”

The SGF Airport has received several federal grants to construct, maintain, or improve critical airfield infrastructure, including runways, taxiways, and apron areas, thanks to help from Senator Blunt.

“Senator Blunt was instrumental in securing federal funding and helping to overcome obstacles during the development of SGF’s Midfield Terminal that opened on May 6, 2009.  This modern 275,000 square foot facility with 10 airline gates is a showpiece for Springfield and will continue to serve the air transportation needs of our region for decades to come,” said Brian Weiler, Director of Aviation. “He has actively supported key airport economic development projects, such as advocating with American Airlines to establish a state-of-the-art airline maintenance facility that opened in December 2021, and most recently helping to secure funding to help build a new aircraft mechanic training facility with Ozarks Technical Community College expected to open in late 2024.”

Senator Blunt has served in several leadership positions on a variety of legislative committees. While in these roles, he regularly sought out and strongly considered input from local officials that gave southwest Missouri a voice during the development of national policy.  For example, while serving a Chair of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Aviation, he had the SGF Director of Aviation travel to Washington DC to testify at a hearing on TSA Modernization and Improvements to Aviation security.  He also worked to maintain operations funding for SGF’s 24-hour Air Traffic Control Tower.

He has actively supported key airport economic development projects, such as advocating with American Airlines to establish a state-of-the-art airline maintenance facility that opened in December 2021, which will help ensure quality airline service for our regions for decades to come.  He also just recently helped secure funding to help build a new aircraft mechanic training facility with Ozarks Technical Community College at SGF that is expected to open in late 2024.

“Senator Blunt is an inspiration,” McClure went on. “Born in the small town of Niangua and grew up on a dairy farm, Roy Blunt is a fifth generation Missourian who was the first in his family to graduate from college. Roy Blunt worked tirelessly to represent and advance issues for Southwest Missouri, including at the Springfield-Branson National Airport (SGF). This is a fitting honor for this kind and generous statesman.”

A public ceremony to celebrate the name change is planned for Dec. 16, 2022. The cost for signage and a plaque to commemorate the occasion is being covered by private donations.