[1] During World War II, he served as an officer in the United States Navy Lee also went on to start Camp Maxwelton and Camp Lachlan with his wife Rosa in Lexington, Va.
McLaughlin was the captain of the track team and played football at the collegiate level for the University of Virginia.
He was subsequently drafted and played Guard for the Green Bay Packers, starting all eight games of the 1941 NFL season, before leaving football to fight in World War II.
After the war, McLaughlin began coaching for Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Virginia.
[2] After successful seasons coaching at the high school level, McLaughlin was named head football coach at Washington and Lee University in 1957.