Laurence C. Hodgson

Infobox_Politician
name = Laurence C. Hodgson


imagesize = 143px
caption = Laurence C. Hodgson circa 1919
birth_date = Birth date|1874|11|06|mf=y
birth_place = Hastings, Minnesota
residence = Minnesota
death_date = death date and age|1937|03|24|1874|11|06
death_place = Saint Paul, Minnesota
office = 34th & 36th Mayor of Saint Paul
term = 1918–1922 and 1926–1930
predecessor = Vivian R. Irvin
Arthur C. Nelson
successor = Arthur C. Nelson
Gerhard J. Bundlie
constituency = Saint Paul, Minnesota
party = Democrat
religion =
occupation = Journalist
majority =
relations =
spouse =
civil partner =
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website =
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Laurence Curran Hodgson (born November 6, 1874, died March 24, 1937) was an American newspaper journalist, poet, and politician from Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Hodgson was a newspaper reporter and columnist, writing at different times for the "Minneapolis Times", and the "St. Paul Dispatch-Pioneer Press". He had a column that appeared daily on the back page of the "Dispatch" called "Cabbages and Kings," a reference to Lewis Carroll's poem, "The Walrus and the Carpenter."

He commonly wrote under the pen name "Larry Ho." The name came about when he had written his first feature article for the "Times". He was signing his name, "Larry Hodgson," but his pencil broke after the first "o." The city editor, James Gray, reportedly said, "Better let it go at that–'Larry Ho.'"

He served as secretary to both St. Paul mayors Winn Powers and Vivian R. Irvin, and upon the expiration of Irvin's term, he was elected mayor by a large majority. He served two non-consecutive terms as mayor from 1918 to 1922, and from 1926 to 1930.

After Hodgson's death in 1937, his son, Laurence K. Hodgson, edited and published a book called "Howdy Folks: Selections from the Writings, Verse and Speeches of Larry Ho."

References

* [http://www.spphs.com/history/1919/hodgson.php Saint Paul Police Historical Society]