Captain Archie ‘Poo,’ former owner of North Myrtle Beach’s Captain Archie’s, dies at 87

Local and regional legend. A “larger than life” character. The Ernest Hemingway of South Carolina.

These are a few words Billy Riggs, manager of Captain Archie’s in North Myrtle Beach, used to describe its former owner, Captain Archie Neil “Poo” McLauchlin, who died Wednesday at 87 years old.

“He was a pioneer in the boating and fishing communities,” Riggs said.

McLauchlin, born May 16, 1935, was a lifelong resident of North Myrtle Beach, and served as the first dockmaster for the Palmetto Shores Marina, which would later open the Palmetto Yacht and Fishing Club. Known as Captain Poo, he took over the restaurant in 1981, which would later be renamed “Captain Archie’s” in 2017, under Riggs’ management.

Why was he called Captain Poo? According to the restaurant’s website, he was nicknamed “Poo” by his older sister when he was born at 13 pounds. The name is a reference to a 1930s cartoon character, “Poo the Giant.”

Poo graduated Wampee High School in Little River. He went on to serve in the U.S. Air Force as a security guard in Del Rio, Texas between 1954 and 1958. After serving the country, he returned home to continue his boating career.

Poo was known for several things in North Myrtle Beach, but is best known for his Captain Poo’s Mack Attack Tournament, a fishing tournament he held in the 1960s and 70s for king mackerel that will always stand out among the residents of North Myrtle Beach.

He remained involved in many marlin and king mackerel fishing tournaments until his death, according to Susan Watson, his niece.

“When he wasn’t fishing or delivering boats, he was spending time under the oak tree in Little river with many of the local captains,” Watson said.

Poo’s old fishing tournament crew, dubbing themselves “The Poo Crew” asked South Carolina legislature to rename the Little River swing bridge after him in 2018. The swing bridge is now called the “Captain Archie Neil ‘Poo’ McLauchlin Swing Bridge.”

Besides boating and fishing, Captain Poo was instrumental in starting the Intracoastal Christmas Regatta, an annual Thanksgiving maritime parade held at the Docks Holiday Marina. The event is hosted by Yachts for Tots.

Poo was well known up and down the east coast in the boating community.

A memorial service will be held 3-5 p.m. Sunday at Captain Archie’s, located at 2200 Little River Neck Rd.