Former WWPSA Head Thomas McLaughlin, 84, Dies

Thomas Hugh McLaughlin, former executive director of the World Wide Pet Supply Association (WWPSA), died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012, in his home in Fortuna, Calif., from complications of pneumonia at the age of 84. His wife Nancy and their daughter Sally were with him when he died.

McLaughlin’s career in the pet industry included stints at Lambert Kay and St. Jon Pet Care Products. He was serving on the board of directors of the Western World Pet Supply Association, now the World Pet Association, when he joined the organization’s staff in 1984 as executive director. He served in that position until retiring from the then-named World Wide Pet Supply Association in 1996 when current WPA president Doug Poindexter succeeded him as executive vice president of the trade group.

While leading WWPSA, he was instrumental in creating the Companion Animal Hygienist (CAH) program to certify groomers around the world. He also was at the helm when the organization began the American Family Pet Show, now known as America’s Family Pet Expo, one of the largest pet expos for consumers in the U.S. 

McLaughlin was born Sept. 24, 1927, in Grand Island, Neb., to Hugh and Helen McLaughlin. He was the eldest of three boys.

Upon graduation from high school in 1945, McLaughlin joined the U.S. Navy and served one year and five days before being discharged. During his time in the U.S. Navy, he served on a ship that transported 3,000 World War II German prisoners from San Francisco through the Panama Canal to Liverpool, England.

He then attended the University of Oregon where he majored in business administration. A member of the Chi Psi fraternity and Alpha Delta Sigma advertising fraternity, he graduated in 1949 and moved to San Francisco where he married Nancy (nee) Bendorf on Dec. 22, 1950. They had four children:  Derby, Sally, Thomas, Jr. and Neil.

Nancy McLaughlin has asked that in lieu of flowers donations be made to a hospice of the donor’s choice. Services are pending.

<HOME>