Clark R. Mollenhoff (March 25, 1908 – April 10, 1980) was an American journalist, author, and professor best known for his investigative reporting on organized crime and political corruption.
Early life and education
- Born in Fall River, Massachusetts.
- Earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan in 1929.
Career
- Began his journalism career with the St. Louis Post‑Dispatch (1930–1935) and later the St. Louis Globe‑Democrat (1935–1938).
- Joined the St. Louis Post‑Dispatch again in 1938, where he worked for more than three decades, eventually becoming chief correspondent for investigative stories.
- Served as a war correspondent during World War II, reporting from the Pacific theater.
Investigative work
- Gained national prominence in the 1950s and 1960s for exposing connections between the Teamsters Union and organized crime figures, most notably in his 1955 book The Teamsters.
- Authored several other influential works, including The Investigative Reporter (1968), a textbook on investigative journalism techniques, and The Life and Death of the American Journalist (1976).
Awards and recognition
- Received the Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting in 1950 for a series on corruption in St. Louis.
- Honored with the Sigma Delta Chi Award for public service reporting (1956).
Academic contributions
- After retiring from full‑time newspaper work, Mollenhoff taught journalism at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, where he mentored future investigative reporters.
Legacy
Clark R. Mollenhoff is remembered for his rigorous reporting style and his contributions to exposing organized‑crime influence in labor unions and politics. His writings continue to be cited in studies of mid‑20th‑century American journalism and investigative methods.
