George Caldwell (Louisiana 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.

In what were called the "Louisiana scandals", in 1939 Caldwell was indicted for misuse of PWA funds and pleaded guilty to federal charges.

[2] After his parents died when he was young, George was cared for by his paternal uncle Summerfield "Summa" Caldwell, who had founded a contracting firm in Abbeville with two other brothers, Vernon and Tom.

George became interested in the firm and started working there when young; he became its leader, as Summa's son was involved in other activities in New Orleans.

[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.

[5] The mansion featured air conditioning, solid gold bathroom fixtures, and black marble floors, ceilings and walls.

[6] With state and federal investigations underway into what was called the "Louisiana Hayride" scandals,[6] Caldwell was asked to resign as superintendent.

[1] After being convicted of tax evasion and bribery, for requiring kickbacks from contractors, Caldwell was sentenced in 1940 to four years in a federal prison.