Charles Lindbergh Shannon or “Lindy” was known to La Crosse teenagers of the late 1950s and 1960s as the “man behind the music.” Shannon hosted a radio show, wrote a newspaper column about music, and managed the record department at Leithold’s Music. This trio of jobs set Shannon up to be the leader of La Crosse’s pop music scene from the mid-1950s through the mid-1970s.

 

 

Longtime Valley View Rotarian John Lyche, left, received a Paul Harris Fellowship +1 award at the Wednesday, Aug. 6, meeting.

Lyche grew up in East Grand Forks and studied business at the University of North Dakota. He has given his time, talents, and financial resources to a long list of civic organizations and projects over many years including the La Crosse Community Theatre, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater La Crosse, the Family & Children’s Center, United Way, the Salvation Army, Gundersen Health System and Foundation, Riverfest, and many others.

Along with his spouse, Linda, Lyche played a key role in the collaboration and fundraising success of the Weber Center for the Performing Arts. They traveled to India to administer polio vaccines as part of Rotary International’s Polio Plus campaign. They also established a scholarship at Western Technical College and have been honored for good works with the Salvation Army Red Kettle Award, the Association of Fundraising Professionals Outstanding Philanthropists Award, and the Iverson Freking Ecumenical Award. They also created a Family Foundation that has benefited many area deserving programs.

 Lyche continues to be active in many Valley View projects. He was presented with the award by Brad Quarberg, Valley View’s Paul Harris Fellow presenter.

 The Paul Harris Fellow recognition is Rotary’s way of acknowledging contributions to the Rotary Foundation for humanitarian and educational programs. A contribution to the Foundation is an investment in goodwill, peace and understanding.

 

Mark & Mary Kerrigan's home location 30662 Mulder Rd., Dresbach, Mn