La Crosse could have had a Kennedy High School, 54 years ago

During December of 1963, Americans were still adjusting to the November assassination of President John-F Kennedy, and to the new president, Lyndon Johnson.  Don Medinger of the La Crosse city council proposed naming either a new high school to be built in La Crosse, or a portion of Highway 35, after Kennedy.  Those ideas were set aside for study, but neither one was approved.  The new school on Losey would become the new Central High School, while a street which could have been named after JFK still goes by three different names today…West Avenue, Lang Drive, and George Street.  
 
The Kennedy shooting led Indiana Senator Birch Bayh to recommend that President Johnson nominate a new vice president, and send that name to Congress within 30 days.  The Constitution did not allow for replacing a vice president, if that job opened up in mid-term.  The position remained open until the next election, but Bayh’s idea paved the way for the 25th Amendment.  Wisconsin became the second state to ratify that amendment in 1965.
 
Two Christmas records that are now classics were released in late 1963…Bing Crosby performing “Do You Hear What I Hear?” and Andy Williams with “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”…54 years ago, yesterday in La Crosse.