In an online survey, respondents overwhelmingly favored naming Bend’s new high school after Medal of Honor recipient Robert “Bob” Maxwell, who died in May.

There were 181 submissions asking Bend-La Pine Schools to name the new school after Maxwell, from Bob Maxwell High School to Robert Maxwell High School to simply Maxwell High, according to the school district’s survey, obtained by The Bulletin.

Maxwell’s name was submitted more than twice as much as of the second-most popular name, Deschutes or Deschutes River High, which were mentioned a combined 85 times.

Maxwell died of natural causes in Bend this May at the age of 98. He received the Medal of Honor in 1945 for risking his life to save fellow American soldiers the year prior while his infantry division was in Besancon, France during World War II. When German soldiers lobbed a grenade at his group, Maxwell grabbed a blanket and fell on the grenade, which severely wounded him but saved the lives of the nearby U.S. soldiers.

Maxwell received many other awards for his actions in World War II, including two Purple Hearts. After returning to the United States, he eventually settled in Central Oregon, where he taught auto repair and service at Bend High School and Central Oregon College. After spending time in Lane County and Arizona, Maxwell and his wife, Beatrice Maxwell, permanently moved back to Bend in 1996.

At the time of his death in May, Maxwell was the oldest living recipient of the Medal of Honor.

It is uncertain whether the Bend-La Pine School Board, which will make the final decision on the new high school’s name, will choose Maxwell as a namesake. According to school board rules, a person’s name can only be chosen if they’ve been dead for at least five years.

Even then, the school district has shied away from naming schools after people in recent years. The last time Bend-La Pine named a school after a person was William E. Miller Elementary in 2009, recognizing the former head of Miller Lumber.

During the naming process for North Star Elementary, the most popular online submission was to name the school after former Bend elementary teacher Arlie Seems. However, despite being dead for five years, the school board did not put Seems’ name on a list of three finalists, which frustrated some in the community. Seems received six submissions for the new high school’s name this fall.

Many other popular submissions for the new high school’s name were based on Central Oregon’s geography or natural landmarks. Nearly 50 people suggested Bachelor or Mount Bachelor High. Newberry High School, after the nearby Newberry Volcano, was a frequent submission, along with other caldera and lava-themed names.

Sixteen people submitted Ponderosa High School — an unlikely pick, seeing as Bend-La Pine already has a Ponderosa Elementary School. There also five entries for Bend High School, which is the name of the existing Bend High School.

Other notable locals who garnered voters included Alexander Drake, a founder of Bend, Mt. Bachelor ski area founder Bill Healy and Olympic gold medalist Ashton Eaton. There were only a few national historical figures submitted, including Harriet Tubman.

Current U.S. President Donald Trump had multiple submissions. One person even suggested his son, Donald Trump, Jr., who has not held elected office.

Some of the submissions were meant to be humorous, such as “Hydroflask High School” or “Poverty with a view.” About 25 people submitted “Schooly McSchoolFace.” One person simply wrote, “Bend High 2.0.”

Many mascot names were submitted, including Corgi Dogs, Rapids, Steelheads and Pronghorns. The most frequently requested mascot name was Rock Chucks.

Submitted names will be reviewed by the new high school’s naming committee, led by planning principal Chris Boyd. The Bend-La Pine school board will make the final decision on the school’s name, as well as its mascot and colors, later this school year.

The new high school is currently under construction at the intersection of Knott Road and SE 15th Street in southeast Bend. It is expected to welcome students in the fall of 2021.