Leo McLaughlin
Leo McLaughlin | |
|---|---|
McLaughlin in 1952 | |
| Mayor of Hot Springs, Arkansas | |
| In office 1927–1947 | |
| Succeeded by | Earl T. Ricks |
| City attorney of Hot Springs, Arkansas | |
| In office April 8, 1912 – April 10, 1916 | |
| Preceded by | J. A. Stallcup |
| Succeeded by | Jas S. McConnell |
| In office April 8, 1918 – 1918 | |
| Preceded by | Jas S. McConnell |
| Succeeded by | Orlando H. Sumpter |
| In office 1919–~1927 | |
| Preceded by | Orlando H. Sumpter |
| Member of the Arkansas House of Representatives from Garland County | |
| In office January 12, 1911 – 1912 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Leo Patrick McLaughlin June 5, 1888 Hot Springs, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | May 5, 1958 (aged 69) |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Juanita Gilliam
(m. 1918; div. 1921)Mary Francis Frink
(m. 1931; div. 1931)Florence Paul
(m. 1931; div. 1936) |
| Education | University of Arkansas (attended) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1918–1919 |
| Rank | Corporal |
Leo Patrick McLaughlin (June 5, 1888 – May 5, 1958) was an American politician who served as the mayor of Hot Springs, Arkansas, from 1927 to 1947, and in the Arkansas House of Representatives in 1911. He was the head of a political machine in Garland County, Arkansas.
McLaughlin was born in Hot Springs in 1888, and was educated at Hot Springs High School and attended the University of Arkansas for two weeks. He entered politics in the 1910s as a member of the state house before being elected as city attorney in Hot Springs. He left politics temporarily after being drafted into the United States Army, but returned to the position of city attorney.
During McLaughlin's tenure, illegal gambling was rampant and criminals – such as Al Capone and Lucky Luciano – received protection. His opponents, under the leadership of Sid McMath, defeated members of his political machine in the 1946 election and took the mayoralty in the 1947 election after McLaughlin dropped out due to an investigation. The charges against him were dropped and he unsuccessfully attempted to return to politics before dying in 1958.