He was discharged in 1919 (he would be active with the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, serving as commander of the local VFW Post 1248),[1] and went into the family business, the Lafond Fish Company.
[2] LaFond was a vehement and outspoken advocate of the interests of the commercial fishing industry, and frequently came into conflict with conservation forces in Wisconsin.
[4] He would continue to disagree with state wildlife and conservation forces for decades to come, culminating in several cases where he was involved in violent clashes.
He was convicted of "resisting and obstructing conservation wardens in the performance of their duties," in part because of witness testimony that he told members of a mob gathered on the dock "Come on, boys, let's take 'em!
After flirting with a run against Governor Philip La Follette in 1938,[9] he instead ran on the Union ticket for Wisconsin's 1st State Senate district (Door, Kewaunee and Manitowoc counties) to replace retiring Progressive John Cashman.