Cherry Lommen graduated from Central High School where she was a member of the Honor Society and a cheerleader. Cherry attended UW-L and majored in Chemistry with a minor in Math. She graduated with honors in 1968.

Cherry married Richard “Dick” Lommen in 1964. Dick and Cherry began their McDonald’s legacy by purchasing their first restaurant on Losey Blvd. in La Crosse in 1968, locally known as Courtesy Corporation. The tradition continues today with their son Rick and Wendy as McDonald’s Owner/Operators who will open their 53^rd restaurant next month.

Cherry and Dick are very proud of their family. McDonald’s has truly become a family affair. They have two sons, Rick and Leigh, and six grandchildren. Rick and wife Wendy have three children; Lauren, age 18, a senior at Onalaska High School and currently a Manager at the Holmen McDonald’s, Claire, age 16, a sophomore and currently a Crew Trainer, and Tyler, age 12, a 6^th grader at Onalaska Middle School who also serves at grand openings of new McDonald’s locations. Leigh is currently pursuing an MBA in graduate school at Columbia University. He and his wife Dawn, a physician at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville Florida, have three children; Endrias, age seven and Betti, age five, siblings who were adopted from Ethiopia in 2011, and Anneliese who is almost two years old.

Cherry became involved in the Boys and Girls Club in the late 1970’s when her son, Leigh, started to play basketball and the Club was located in St. John’s Church. Cherry felt that the club was an incredible place for kids to play sports and participate in other programs. While there, they also realized that the Club was a great place for less fortunate youth as well. Cherry joined the Board of Directors in 1989 where she served for 14 years until 2003. She was a very active Board member getting involved in countless fundraising activities. She and Dick, through Courtesy Corporation, began the first sponsorship of the Boys and Girls Club Youth Development Basketball Program, which includes one of the largest youth basketball tournaments in the Mid-West. McDonald’s is still an instrumental part of the Club today.

Cherry has also been very involved in other community organizations including Chileda, where she served on their Board for 18 years. She was an integral member of starting the Women’s Board to create awareness and funds for Chileda. She also served on the La Crosse Community Theatre Board, Family and Children’s Center Board, the UW-L Self-Sufficiency Program Board, the WWTC “Break the Cycle” Board, and the Viterbo Advisory Board.

In 2012, Cherry was recognized for her service by receiving the Pope John XXIII Distinguished Service Award, recognizing individuals who have distinguished themselves through service to higher education, to community, to humankind.



Cherry’s induction into the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater La Crosse Wall of Fame honors her commitment to serving the youth in the La Crosse area.