For several years now, Inside the Beltway has published thought-provoking political limericks penned by “F.R. Duplantier.” Readers, at the same time, often inquired of the limerist’s background — some long suspecting this columnist was behind the verse beneath the nom de plume “Duplantier.”
Oh, to be so talented.
“Both my parents were journalists in New Orleans,” Mr. Duplantier reveals. “My dad wrote for the States-Item; my mother was a photographer and feature writer for Dixie Roto, the old color supplement to the Times-Picayune. They were both Marines, too, my father serving with the occupation troops in Japan and my mother stationed in Honolulu during World War II.
“My wife, Evann, is a free-lance graphic artist and homeschooling mother of six. She’s also the product of two press people. Her mother, who studied journalism under my father, was for many years director of university relations at Loyola New Orleans; her dad was a documentary film photographer for WWL-TV, the CBS affiliate in New Orleans. Our kids also have excellent art and writing skills, so it looks like we’re establishing a communications dynasty.”
As for the limerist himself, from 1995 to 2001 the modest Mr. Duplantier penned and produced Behind The Headlines, a nationally-syndicated radio and newspaper commentary. Prior to that, he edited a news magazine, and way back in 1984 published his first collection of cartoons, titled Only in New Orleans. Then, in 2000, the presses pumped out Politickles: Limericks Lampooning the Lunatic Left, many of which, we’re proud to say, originally appeared in this column. — John McCaslin, Inside The Beltway, Thursday, August 1, 2002