George Caldwell (Louisiana official)
George A. Caldwell | |
---|---|
Born | contractor | August 24, 1892
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | (1) Zellie Belle Wahl Caldwell (2) Margaret Longmire Caldwell (married 1948-1966, his death) |
Parent(s) | Charlie and Camille LeBlanc Caldwell |
George A. Caldwell, sometimes known as Big George Caldwell (August 24, 1892 – March 12, 1966), was a Louisiana building contractor and state official. In the 1930s, during the Great Depression, he served as Superintendent for Construction at Louisiana State University, where he was known to "rake off 2 per cent of the cost of all building projects."[1] Caldwell managed the construction of nine buildings on the campus as federal Public Works Administration (PWA) projects in Baton Rouge.[1] These included the university library and the structures housing the dairying and physics departments.[2]
He also built three parish courthouses, and numerous other major public projects during his career. In what were called the "Louisiana scandals", in 1939 Caldwell was indicted for misuse of PWA funds and pleaded guilty to federal charges. He was one of several top-ranking Louisiana leaders convicted and jailed in this scandal, including Governor
Biography
George A. Caldwell was born in 1892
After getting his work underway, Caldwell married Zellie Belle Wahl.[3]
In his total career, Caldwell built "twenty-six major buildings throughout the state, including six hospitals, East Baton Rouge Parish and Webster Parish courthouses; the Louisiana State Library; the Louisiana State University Library (Baton Rouge); the state highway department office building; five churches; two church youth centers; five schools; the
Superintendent of Construction
In the 1930s, Caldwell was appointed as State Superintendent of Construction, during which time he completed several WPA projects at LSU.[2] Governor Richard W. Leche had benefited by the late Senator Huey Long's alliance with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the state received funds from the Public Works Administration for major projects.[1]
Caldwell had a talent for organization and swift construction. Under his direction, the Panhellion, one of the Works Progress Administration projects on the LSU campus, was completed in thirty days. Another (Building "G") was completed in ten days. Neither is still standing.[1]
Investigations later revealed that Caldwell was keeping 2 percent of the funds budgeted for the construction projects at LSU.[1][4] He built a lavish mansion near the university; it was estimated to have cost $45,000, then a large amount of money.[5] The mansion featured air conditioning, solid gold bathroom fixtures, and black marble floors, ceilings and walls. Caldwell's salary at the time was $6,000 annually.[6]
The
The prosecutor, Malcolm Lafargue of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana in Shreveport, alleged that Caldwell and his cronies were using federal funds to pay contractors for work conducted at their own houses.[7][8] Caldwell ultimately pleaded guilty to seven federal charges.[9] State officials convicted and jailed at the same time as Caldwell in this scandal included Governor Richard W. Leche, whose offenses also included illegal oil dealing;[6] LSU President James Monroe Smith, and LSU Business Manager E. S. Jackson. Monte Hart, Caldwell's partner in his firm, was convicted of contracting-related charges and died before serving his sentence. The two-year sentence of Dr. Clarence Lorio was suspended; he was president of the Louisiana State Medical Society.[1]
After being convicted of
Caldwell married for a second time in 1948 to Margaret Longmire.[2]
Caldwell died in Baton Rouge in 1966 at the age of seventy-three.[2] He is interred in the Garden of Faith plot at Resthaven Gardens of Memory and Mausoleum in Baton Rouge. His second wife Margaret, who died in 1983, is interred beside him; her grave is unmarked.
See also
References
- ^ ISBN 9781578069453.
- ^ a b c d e f "Caldwell, George A." Louisiana Historical Association: A Dictionary of Louisiana Biography (lahistory.org). Archived from the original on February 25, 2012. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
- ^ Kane, p. 231.
- ^ Kane, p. 281.
- ^ Kane, pp. 231-2.
- ^ ISBN 9781118619643.
- ^ a b Kane, p 307.
- ^ Charles Leavelle (October 20, 1939). "Scandals Bared in Louisiana Put Lid on Gambling". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2015-02-23.
Meanwhile, a federal grand jury at Monroe, La., let it be known that George A. Caldwell, former building superintendent at Louisiana State university, had been indicted again on charges of mail fraud. The indictment was returned yesterday, but it was kept secret until Caldwell's rearrest. He posted a $5,000 bond and was released this afternoon. Caldwell's previous indictment was in connection with alleged arrangements with contractors. It is charged, they kicked back several thousands of dollars to the L. S. U.
- ^ "Untitled". The Kane Republican. Pennsylvania. International News Service. February 12, 1940. p. 8. Retrieved 2015-02-23.
Big George Caldwell, rotund ex-building superintendent at Louisiana State University, today pleaded guilty to seven federal charges....
Sources
- ISBN 9781455606115
External links
- "George A. Caldwell". findagrave.com. Retrieved March 2, 2015.
- "Margaret L. Caldwell". findagrave.com. Retrieved March 2, 2015.