A host of programs are offered to assisted-living residents at Amira Choice Roseville at Lexington, but the “Active Minds” lectures are Larry McGough’s favorites. They help the 94-year-old keep his mind sharp, whether he’s learning about flowers or Indonesia. “I never realized how many islands make up Indonesia — thousands!” he said.
Keeping his spiritual life strong is another guiding force for McGough, who founded McGough Construction with his brothers in 1956 and belongs to St. Rose of Lima in Roseville.
Q) You grew up in a family of nine kids and, for years, you were an altar server at the 6:30 a.m. daily Mass at Nativity of Our Lord in St. Paul.
A) My two parents were very, very faithful. The whole family would say the rosary together every day after supper. We’d all be in the living room, kneeling down, and we’d be spread out in front of the chairs and the sofa.
Q) Then you moved to Roseville and began helping the pastor at St. Rose of Lima, Father John Abbott, who was scared of dogs. You’d tag along on his sick calls to ward off any dogs in his path and then wait in the car until he was done.
A) He’d call and it meant “go jump in when his car pulls up and, if there are any dogs, chase them away.” It could be two in the morning.
Q) You learned to help whenever and however you could. That was part of your Catholic faith.
A) I think we knew that. Another thing I remember from my childhood — and I’ve thought about it thousands of times — is we all had to work. It was the best thing that ever happened. We all had a work ethic. If there was something that needed to be done, you do it.
I started working as a teenager. My first job was on the Basilica (of St. Mary in Minneapolis). We were re-roofing the church. This was before tower cranes, so there was a hoist. There were 10-inch gaps between the columns going around the base of the dome where pigeon manure had piled up. They were determining how to get it out and my dad said: “That’s such a small space! I think Larry could squeeze in there.” I was a skinny kid, so I spent the first two weeks shoveling pigeon manure all the way around the basilica.
Q) That work ethic helped you launch your construction business, which became a sweeping success, building dozens of Catholic churches and noteworthy buildings.
A) My uncle broke off with his boys, so my brothers and I incorporated and started our own firm, McGough Construction. We started in the garage at 1872 Selby. It was Charlie, Leo and myself. We didn’t have a secretary. The very first date we were going to start — and we didn’t talk about when we were going to be there — all three of us showed up within a minute of each other at 5:30 in the morning. We all had a work ethic that never quit.
I think the first job we did was for St. Rose. We built what then was the new convent — it’s now the parish offices. The only thing I remember about that is one night Father Abbott called and said: “The nuns are locked out! Can you do something about it?” My brother Greg had a set of lock picks — and he was registered with the police — because we needed him on the job with all the master keys. Father Abbott told us the next day that the nuns didn’t sleep all night after seeing how easily he picked the lock.
Q) In the early ‘90s, Archbishop Roach approached a dozen Catholic leaders to bounce an idea off them: raising $45 million to found a foundation for the archdiocese. The others were doubtful, but you embraced the idea — and became his fundraising wingman.
A) I did over 200 visits with Archbishop Roach. I’m sure we called on over 100 Minnesotans in Naples, Florida, alone. Boy, did he make a great case. When we left, he’d ask, “Well, how do you think it went, Larry?” And I said, “I thought it went really well, but we forgot to ask them for money. Do you want me to do it, Archbishop?” And he said, “Oh, that would be great!” So, every call we went on, he’d make the case and I’d ask for the money. And everyone gave. People defer to the archbishop. At least eight or nine of the ones we called on had hired a professional photographer ahead of time so they could have their picture with him. None of them wanted me in the picture!
We raised $78 million, with an additional $150 million offered, and the Catholic Community Foundation was founded.
Q) And then Archbishop Flynn became a close friend.
A) He was such a super guy. The one trait that always got me was how he could remember names. It was unbelievable. The first day he came to the archdiocese, for his installation (as archbishop), they had a lunch for him at the Radisson Hotel and a receiving line to meet him. We were instructed to just tell him your name and move on. So, my wife, Andrea, and I introduced ourselves and then quickly passed through. After the installation, three or four hours later, there was another gathering at this same hotel and another line, so we’re going through, and when Andrea gets there, he says, “How are you, Andrea? How are you, Larry?” I couldn’t believe it. He’d met at least 300 people! It was his first day in the city and he knew everybody’s names.
Q) Andrea died eight years ago after a long battle with aphasia, brain degeneration and dementia.
A) We were married for 61 and a half years. Every morning, I talk to her. I look at her pictures. I go out to the cemetery pretty regularly. I tell her: “I’ll be joining you before long.”
Q) Tell me about daily life here in assisted living.
A) I go to bed at 6:30 p.m. and wake up at 4 o’clock. I shower and shave and dress and then I say my rosary and then I read four devotionals — “Give Us This Day,” “Easter to Pentecost,” the “St. Joseph Prayer Book” and “Living Faith.” It takes me an hour and a half at least. By then it’s time to go down and eat breakfast. I’ve got a lot of friends here. There’s four of us that sit at the same table — breakfast, lunch and supper. Rich and Vern and Dallas and myself. I didn’t know any of them ahead of time.
I’ll get a coffee to go and then, when I come up from breakfast, I add my own French vanilla sugar-free creamer. I’m diabetic.
Q) Then you settle in next to your basket of books, Sudoku and crossword puzzles.
A) I enjoy doing the crosswords. It’s a challenge, plus it’s something to do. I have “The New Comprehensive A to Z Crossword Dictionary,” but I only use it when I’m really stuck. I also like to read. I’m reading “Over My Dead Body” by Jeffrey Archer. I pass along his books. People can’t pick up “The Cliffton Chronicles” (series) fast enough.
Q) What’s the secret to aging well?
A) Good genes, none of us drank, and we worked. I’ve taken a number of falls. I have to be really careful, but I’ve learned: don’t wheel around to get something real fast — move gingerly and get your cane out there.
Q) Your faith has been an anchor your whole life.
A) It’s a given, no two ways about it. It’s always been that way. It was a gift.
I never had a doubt at all about the Lord, and that’s all there is to it. I tell him every night: “If you take me tonight, Lord, take me with you.” And during the day, I can be doing almost anything and I figure, well, the Lord’s right here watching me.
