The Springfield Airport Authority on Tuesday approved changing the name of Capital Airport to Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, effective immediately.

The decision was the "best combination" of possible names presented to the public, said Eric Frankl, airport executive director. It not only satisfies those who wanted "Capital Airport" to remain in the name, he said, but also those who wanted it to include Lincoln.

"But certainly, (the name) is not going to please everyone," Frankl acknowledged.

The public was invited to participate in deciding the name. Although the board made the ultimate decision, public feedback served as a recommendation.

The airport authority presented four possible names - A. Lincoln Springfield Capital Airport, A. Lincoln Capital Airport, Springfield Abraham Lincoln Airport and Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport - for the public to vote on.

After three weeks, 417 votes were submitted by mail or online. The voting ended Sunday.

The leading choices were Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport, which received 144 votes, or 35 percent of the total; and Springfield Abraham Lincoln Airport, which got 122 votes, or 29 percent.

Both A. Lincoln Springfield Capital Airport and A. Lincoln Capital Airport received about 30 votes each.

Although two other options were not offered, some participants voted for the name to remain the same while a few recommended other names. "No change" received 72 votes, or 17 percent, while "other" got 20 votes, or about 5 percent.

The board was expected to wait on approving a name change until its July meeting, but chairman Bernard Armbruster said Tuesday the board figured it would get more "no" votes the longer that suggestion was being pushed.

"Twenty-two percent voted 'no' without even being asked," Armbruster said, referring to those who wanted something other than the four choices offered.

One of the most vocal opponents of changing the name, WMAY talk show host Jim Leach, encouraged his listeners to write in and suggest the name be left alone.

Adding Lincoln is unnecessary and almost "exploitative," he said after the decision was made.

"I don't see the connection to Lincoln and the airport at all," Leach said. "This all seems a little extraneous and frivolous."

Earl "Wally" Henderson, a member of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, first floated the idea of an airport name change at a meeting of that panel last fall. Henderson said he thought changing the name would be appropriate as Springfield prepared for the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, which will be celebrated in 2009.

"The suggestion seemed like a doable and practical thing," a delighted Henderson said Tuesday night.

"It makes it easy for people to know that you can immerse yourself in the Lincoln story by coming to Springfield, Illinois, through airfare and air publication."

With Lincoln's Home, New Salem and the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, the name change fits into the whole Lincoln experience, Henderson added.

"It's honorary," he said, "but also an effort to attract people to the community."

In addition, there had been concerns that another airport might beat Springfield to the punch by including Abraham Lincoln in its name. Backers of a proposed third Chicago-area airport in Peotone suggested in April that it be named Abraham Lincoln National Airport.

The Capital Airport name change won't be noticeable for at least several months, Frankl said.

Although a logo featuring the new name has yet to be created, airport officials said they would try to incorporate "Springfield," and possibly add it below the airport's name on letterhead.

"It will have a very, very minimal impact on our budget," Frankl said, noting that the change on letterhead, business cards and stationary will occur only after current supplies are used.

"This is just something to honor Abraham Lincoln," he said.

Ann Sanner can be reached at 788-1523 or ann.sanner@....