Future sports stars from the La Crosse area started getting attention, 57 years ago

In 1962, the Tribune ran a photo of a sad young tennis player, named Tim Gullikson. Tim had just lost the finals of the La Crosse district tennis tournament…to his twin brother, Tom. The Gullikson twins would have many happy days on the tennis court in the future, as singles and doubles players at Wimbledon and other pro tournaments.

Also in ’62, 16-year-old Don Iverson won a golf championship in La Crosse. Don, described as ‘husky’ in the newspaper, finished in a four-way tie with Bob Johns Jr, Dick Pearse Jr, and Gene Ring. Iverson joined the PGA tour in the 70’s, winning the BC Open in 1975.

The La Crosse park board recommended new swimming pools at the north side beach and on Erickson Field. There was some question about whether the Erickson pool would be allowed, because the field had been left to the city in a will, requiring the land to be used for circuses.

The pool eventually was built, near La Crosse’s first McDonald’s on Losey Boulevard. That McDonald’s, with no indoor seating, stood on the current site of Altra Federal Credit Union. Under the Golden Arches in 1962, 57 years ago, yesterday in La Crosse.