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'''John Maurice LaPlante, Jr.''' (January 31, 1953 – April 14, 2007), was an [[United States|American]] political [[columnist]], news bureau director, and [[university]] [[professor]] based in [[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]], who spent more than three decades covering state government and politics. His terminal position, begun in 1998, was as the editor of the six-person Capitol News Bureau for ''The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate''. LaPlante's "Political Horizons" column on Sundays particularly secured a large readership and often sparked heated comments from readers and state officials.

'''John Maurice LaPlante, Jr.''' (January 31, 1953 – April 14, 2007), was an [[United States|American]] political [[columnist]], news bureau director, and [[university]] [[professor]] based in [[Baton Rouge]], [[Louisiana]], who spent more than three decades covering state government and politics.  

 

His terminal position, begun in 1998, was as the editor of the six-person Capitol News Bureau for ''The Baton Rouge Morning Advocate''. LaPlante's "Political Horizons" column on Sundays particularly secured a large readership and often sparked heated comments from readers and state officials.

==Background==

==Background==

Born in [[New Orleans]], LaPlante was the second oldest of ten children of John LaPlante, Sr. (1927-2018), and the former Ann Montgomery. The senior LaPlante graduated in 1958 from Loyola University in New Orleans and was employed by Helicopters, Inc., and Offshore Navigation, Inc., from which he retired as the secretary-treasurer. In 1960, he became a [[Certified Public Accountant]] and moved his family to Mandeville in [[suburb]]an St. Tammany Parish. There he became active in youth sports leagues and worked to bring [[Babe Ruth]] league baseball to Mandeville.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://obits.nola.com/obituaries/nola/obituary.aspx?n=john-maurice-laplante&pid=188496577|title=Obituary of John Maurice LaPlante, Sr.|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=March 20, 2018}}</ref>  

Born in [[New Orleans]], LaPlante was the second oldest of ten children of John LaPlante, Sr. (1927-2018), and the former Ann Montgomery. The senior LaPlante graduated in 1958 from Loyola University in New Orleans and was employed by Helicopters, Inc., and Offshore Navigation, Inc., from which he retired as the secretary-treasurer. In 1960, he became a [[Certified Public Accountant]] and moved his family to Mandeville in [[suburb]]an St. Tammany Parish. There he became active in youth sports leagues and worked to bring [[Babe Ruth]] league baseball to Mandeville.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://obits.nola.com/obituaries/nola/obituary.aspx?n=john-maurice-laplante&pid=188496577|title=Obituary of John Maurice LaPlante, Sr.|publisher=''The New Orleans Times-Picayune''|date=March 20, 2018}}</ref>  

The junior LaPlante graduated in 1971 from Mandeville High School and earned his [[bachelor's degree]] in [[journalism]], including work for ''The Daily Reveille'' student newspaper, at [[Louisiana State University]] in Baton Rouge. After a stint in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] with ''The Town Talk'' in the late 1970s, he joined ''The Baton Rouge Advocate'' as a political reporter.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/theadvocate/DeathNotices.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=87304696|title=John Maurice LaPlante, Jr.|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=April 17, 2007|accessdate=May 23, 2015}}</ref>

The junior LaPlante graduated in 1971 from Mandeville High School and earned his [[bachelor's degree]] in [[journalism]], including work for ''The Daily Reveille'' student newspaper, at [[Louisiana State University]] in Baton Rouge.  

 

After a stint in [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]] with ''The Town Talk'' in the late 1970s, he joined ''The Baton Rouge Advocate'' as a political reporter.<ref name=obit>{{cite web|url=https://www.legacy.com/theadvocate/DeathNotices.asp?Page=Lifestory&PersonId=87304696|title=John Maurice LaPlante, Jr.|publisher=''The Baton Rouge Advocate''|date=April 17, 2007|accessdate=May 23, 2015}}</ref>

His obituary notes that LaPlante:<br>

His obituary notes that LaPlante:<br>

LaPlante obtained a master's degree in journalism from LSU in December 2001, and he thereafter taught introductory and advanced courses at his alma mater. He was a longtime leader of the Press Club of Baton Rouge and the [[Boy Scouts of America]] at St. Aloysius [[Roman Catholic]] Church. He directed his church's efforts to support [[Habitat for Humanity]], and he volunteered with the [[American Red Cross]] in the wake of [[Hurricane Katrina]], having distributed food to the downtrodden of New Orleans.<ref name=obit/>

LaPlante obtained a master's degree in journalism from LSU in December 2001, and he thereafter taught introductory and advanced courses at his alma mater. He was a longtime leader of the Press Club of Baton Rouge and the [[Boy Scouts of America]] at St. Aloysius [[Roman Catholic]] Church. He directed his church's efforts to support [[Habitat for Humanity]], and he volunteered with the [[American Red Cross]] in the wake of [[Hurricane Katrina]], having distributed food to the downtrodden of New Orleans.<ref name=obit/>

LaPlante died in the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, [[Texas]]. In addition to his parents and his children, LaPlante was survived by his wife, Merrill, nine siblings, and three dozen nieces and nephews. Services were held in St. Aloysius Church. He is interred at Resthaven Gardens of Memory in Baton Rouge.<ref name=obit/>

LaPlante died in the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, [[Texas]]. In addition to his parents and his children, LaPlante was survived by his wife, Merrill, nine siblings, and three dozen nieces and nephews. Services were held in St. Aloysius Church. He is interred at Resthaven Gardens of Memory in Baton Rouge.<ref name=obit/>