Laurence Curran Hodgson (November 6, 1874 – March 24, 1937) was an American newspaper journalist, poet, and politician from Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Laurence C. Hodgson
Laurence C. Hodgson circa 1919
34th & 36th Mayor of Saint Paul
In office
1918–1922 and 1926–1930
Preceded byVivian R. Irvin
Arthur E. Nelson
Succeeded byArthur E. Nelson
Gerhard J. Bundlie
ConstituencySaint Paul, Minnesota
Personal details
Born
Laurence Curran Hodgson

(1874-11-06)November 6, 1874
Hastings, Minnesota, U.S.
DiedMarch 24, 1937(1937-03-24) (aged 62)
Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceMinnesota
OccupationJournalist

Biography

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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.

Hodgson also ran for governor in 1920, but came third in the race, garnering only 81,293 votes.[1]

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

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  1. ^ "Minnesota vote for governor since 1857". Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State. Archived from the original on 15 January 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Fred Wheaton
Democratic nominee for Governor of Minnesota
1920
Succeeded by
Edward Indrehus
Political offices
Preceded by Mayor of St. Paul
1918 – 1922
Succeeded by
Preceded by Mayor of St. Paul
1926 – 1930
Succeeded by
Gerhard J. Bundlie