T. Harry
Williams Center for Oral History Collection
4700.0180
INTERVIEWEE NAME: Quinn M. Coco;
Roe J. Cangelosi; James D. Whitty; George W. Schwab; Walter B. Calhoun
IDENTIFICATION: University
employees during scandals in 1939-1940
PROJECT: LSU History
DATE(S): summer
1978 FOCUS DATES:
1936-1940; emphasis on LSU scandals of 1939-1940
ABSTRACT:
Cangelosi
begins working at LSU in September 1933; becomes LSU's bursar; Whitty starts
working at LSU in 1932 and eventually becomes director of plant stores; first
job at LSU was driving a mule team; Schwab starts work at LSU in 1934 and
becomes Director of Purchasing; Calhoun first comes to LSU in 1940 as an
accountant; Coco begins working at LSU in 1942; eventually becomes vice
chancellor for business affairs; began work as an accountant in the auditor's
office; Whitty hauled wagon behind mule team and used it to move office
supplies as well as garbage; President of LSU James Monroe Smith accused of
misappropriating university funds in the summer of 1939; state police close
university; Whitty stopped by state police on his way into LSU the day of the
closing; let onto campus to return university truck; Whitty and other members
of the physical plant prepped for testimony by an attorney John Fred Odom;
Whitty followed by federal investigators when driving university truck to
deliver building supplies in Covington; Schwab's first position at LSU was
athletic business manager; Schwab carries athletic department's money during
the football teams away games; Schwab appointed head of university bookstore in
early 1939; paid by both athletic department and bookstore during January 1939;
questioned about double payment; receives bonus from athletic department in
1935 for Sugar Bowl; Henry Adams, E.N. Jackson, George Caldwell, James Monroe
Smith, and Dr. Clarence Lorio own Baton Rouge Supply; Schwab orders dishes from
Loubat's for university; pressured to buy dishes from Baton Rouge Supply at a
higher price; Schwab refuses and buys dishes from Loubat's; Huey Long pays for
entire LSU student body to attend football game in Nashville; people lined the
tracks on the route to see Huey Long; LSU football team travels to Athens,
Georgia to play University of Georgia in 1935; friendly atmosphere on LSU's
campus during the 1930s; George Caldwell imprisoned in penitentiary; San
Francisco Giants baseball team practices at LSU; Caldwell throws party for
baseball players; sends Whitty to New Orleans to pick up prostitutes and bring
them back to Baton Rouge; Whitty sent to New Orleans on Christmas Day to
deliver presents to family of university official's mistress; Coco enrolled in
summer school when scandals broke in 1939; Whitty goes to President Smith's
house and helps pack two days before the scandal was revealed; Whitty helps
move Mrs. Long after the death of Huey Long; Whitty picks up wedding cake in
New Orleans in university truck for the wedding of President Smith's daughter;
hauls dresses and clothing accessories to New Orleans for the debut of
President Smith's daughter; W.B. Hatcher becomes president of LSU after Smith
is dismissed; stricter regulations implemented by new administration; Calhoun
working for New Orleans Public Service when scandal breaks in 1939; General
Troy Middleton appointed acting vice-president and university comptroller; Dr.
Borth promoted to university auditor; Borth hires Calhoun in early 1940;
Calhoun responsible for distribution and regulation of student fees and income;
extended working hours for university employees during the depression;
university employees held great respect for Dr. Borth; Schwab travels down to
New Orleans to help Dr. Borth inspect campus facilities at LSUNO; Cangelosi
works on the distribution and regulation of student deposit accounts; Coco and
Calhoun responsible for balancing receipts of ticket sales after football
games; J. Edgar Hoover and U.S. Attorney General Murphy attend commencement
exercises at LSU in 1939; Huey Long controlled the system during his career;
system falls apart after Long's death; Leche becomes governor in 1936 and
resigns in 1939 after scandal; LSU system improves as a result of the scandal;
national accounting firm brought in to balance university finances in 1939.
# of CASSETTES: None TOTAL PLAYING TIME:
#
PAGES TRANSCRIPT: 77
RESTRICTIONS: