 By the mid-1960s, McLaughlin had begun what would be the first of 26 years at the "Houston Chronicle" as a writer and editor.While covering professional boxing, McLaughlin interviewed a rising star named Cassius Clay, who later became known as Muhammad Ali and be counted amongst the numerous athletes McLaughlin had covered who would grow to be friends.McLaughlin's wife, Al-Rue, died in 2011 in Florida.