Yesterday in La Crosse
Spock says yes to dignified protesting, no to bomb throwing…47 years ago
In 1970, baby doctor Benjamin Spock was becoming known as a political activist. Dr. Spock drew a crowd of about 1700 to Mitchell Hall at the La Crosse State campus, urging opponents of the Vietnam War to write letters to President Nixon. Spock also defended militant black leaders, while disapproving of the actions of radical groups such as the Black Panthers.
A former bowling alley was about to get a new use. The Gateway trucking company agreed to buy the Holiday Lanes on the pike, near the Holiday Inn. The lanes had closed, but the Captain’s Lounge in the building was still operating. It would shut down early in 1971.
And the Packers played the Cowboys’ Thanksgiving Day game in Dallas that year…losing 16-3. It was the last season for Phil Bengtson, Vince Lombardi’s successor as head coach at Green Bay…47 years ago, 1970, yesterday in La Crosse.