Statue Worker Dies Without Federal Benefits

The family of James Hudson, the man who took care of the statue of Abraham Lincoln for the last five years and who died on the job Monday, will receive no benefits from the National Park Service because he was hired as a temporary employee.

Like 145,000 federal workers nationwide--5% of the government’s civilian work force--Hudson was a full-time but temporary worker who was not entitled to a pension nor government-subsidized health and life insurance.

Hudson’s widow and seven children will mourn his death today at a funeral paid for with money from a modest personal life insurance policy he had.

Marlene (Inga) Hudson received the bleak financial news on Thursday when she called the federal personnel office.

“I could see my sister talking on the phone,” said Brenda Anderson, who is serving as the family’s spokeswoman. “Her expression changed from normal to just despair and shock. She started crying.”

Hudson, 43, who had worked for the Park Service for eight years, died about noon Monday after working his third shift in two days in above-90-degree temperatures at the Lincoln Memorial. The District of Columbia medical examiner’s office later determined the cause of death was a heart attack.