Laurence C. Hodgson

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Laurence C. Hodgson
Laurence C. Hodgson in 1919
34th & 36th Mayor of Saint Paul
In office 1918–1922 and 1926–1930
Preceded by	Vivian R. Irvin Arthur C. Nelson
Succeeded by	Arthur C. Nelson Gerhard J. Bundlie
Constituency	Saint Paul, Minnesota
Born	November 6, 1874(1874-11-06) Hastings, Minnesota
Died	March 24, 1937 (aged 62) Saint Paul, Minnesota
Political party	Democratic
Residence	Minnesota
Occupation	Newspaper

Laurence C. Hodgson (born November 6, 1874, died March 24, 1937) was an American newspaper writer 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 St. Paul mayor Vivian R. Irvin in 1917, 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."

[edit] References

• Saint Paul Police Historical Society