People Search
Find an individual who either played a sport or was a member of a support group. Search by last name by clicking on the first letter of the person's last name.
<< Return to Member List
Mr. Tody Dupont
Home:
,
Work:
Home Phone: --
Work Phone: --
Fax: --
Email: --
UL ‘Headhunter’ Passes – Acadiana Gazette
Judy Johnson Acadiana Gazette www.acadianagazette.com April 27, 2011
Thomas Barker “Tody†Dupont, 66, feared on college gridirons as one of the three “Headhunters†on the University of Southwestern Louisiana Bulldogs teams in the ‘60s, passed away from injuries sustained in an automobile collision. Born in Plaquemine and a 1964 graduate of Plaquemine High School, he excelled there in football and track, quarterbacking the school’s football team and setting a school record for the javelin throw. After coming to USL (now University of Louisiana at Lafayette) on a full collegiate football scholarship, Dupont became a fearsome pass rusher, with interceptions against both Terry Bradshaw and Roger Staubach. His college career was cut short by injuries, but he graduated in 1968 then headed to Houston with the goal of becoming a lawyer. He worked in the election department of the offices of Harris County Clerk R.E. “Bob†Turrentine, attending law school at night. He received his law degree from South Texas College of Law in 1973. Married to the former Dianne Rodeheaver, the two raised two daughters, Kimberly Naumann and Tammy Barber, and a son, Todd Dupont. After being admitted to the Texas Bar, Dupont shared a private practice with his friend Billy Kerr for 25 years before forming Dupont & Dupont with his son, T. B. Todd Dupont II, in 1999. He served his community throughout his life as a prosecutor and municipal court judge, and in handling campaigns for relatives and good friends. In later years he moved to Plantersville, and had recently been appointed to a municipal court bench in Magnolia, Texas.
He also served as editor and publisher of a newsletter serving Plantersville and the surrounding areas.
Athletic Network Footnote:
Please click on www.athleticnetwork.net for the announcement and obituary of Tody Dupont.
Please click here for the 1965 Football photo gallery and here for the 1966 Football photo gallery.
* * * * * * * * * *
Obituary: Tody Dupont, Football 1965 & 66 – One of Headhunters on 1965 GSC Championship Team
Thomas Barker “Tody” Dupont , 66, born in Plaquemine, Louisiana, passed away untimely on April 14, 2011, from injuries sustained in an automobile collision. Tody was a 1964 graduate of Plaquemine High School, where he was an exceptional, all-around athlete. In addition to being crowned homecoming king, Tody was a star quarterback, and set the high school record for the javelin throw, that went undefeated for 20 years. Due to his prowess on the gridiron, Tody was awarded a full collegiate football scholarship to the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, Louisiana.
During his college football career for the Ragin’ Cajuns, he was well known throughout the region as one of a trio of players nicknamed “The Headhunters” for their ruthless pursuit of pass interceptions. His most notable highlights were intercepting passes thrown by Terry Bradshaw and Roger Staubach. His college football career was cut short by injuries sustained on the field. While at USL, he also became a member of the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity, and had an active social life on the college campus. He graduated from USL in 1968.
Tody’s political roots ran deeply on both his maternal (Jumonville) and paternal (Dupont) sides of his family, and he was proud to tell anyone that he was a true “yellow dog democrat” like his “daddy.”
In 1970, Tody left Louisiana, with little more than the clothes on his back and a deep passion for politics, and headed to Houston with the goal of becoming a lawyer. He quickly found a position with then Harris County Clerk R. E. “Bob” Turrentine in the elections department, while attending law school at night. He received his law degree from South Texas College of Law in 1973.
Shortly before receiving his law degree, Tody met and married Dianne Rodeheaver, daughter of longtime and beloved Harris County Clerk Anita Rodeheaver. Trusted godmother of the ballot box, Anita Rodeheaver served unopposed for over 20 years until her untimely death in 1993. During her tenure, Tody was active in Anita Rodeheaver’s campaigns and political career, thereby further ingraining himself in Texas politics.
After being admitted to the Texas Bar in 1973, Tody hit the ground running. He shared a private practice with his friend Billy Kerr for 25 years before forming Dupont & Dupont with his son, T. B. Todd Dupont II, in 1999. In an age of specialized legal fields, Tody prided himself on being true general practitioner, proficiently and effectively representing people in most of areas of the law. He remained in private practice with his son until his death.
Tody fundamentally believed in serving his community. During his long legal career, Tody served as a prosecutor, and then municipal court judge, for the city of Jersey Village, Texas. He presided on that bench for over ten years. In recent years, Tody had relocated to the country in Plantersville, Texas, and, once again, got involved in the local politics. He had been recently appointed a municipal court bench in Magnolia, Texas. Continuing his love of writing and serving his community, he also created the P-S Bulletin, a community newsletter serving Plantersville, Texas and the surrounding areas, and served as its editor and publisher. Tody maintained an active spiritual life, and each Christmas season, Tody loved to don the red suit, and play Santa Claus for children across the State of Texas.
Tody was preceeded in death by his parents John Shelby Dupont and Olive Jumonville Dupont. He is survived by his daughter Kimberly Naumann, 39, and her husband Ron Naumann of Fayetteville, Texas and grandchildren Kortney, Kelsey and Kole Parchman; son Todd Dupont, 38, of Houston, Texas, and grandchildren Madeline, Natalie and Ava Dupont; and, daughter Tammy Barber, 37, and her husband Heath Barber of Cypress, Texas, and grandchildren Savannah, Brayton and Lauren Barber; two sisters and their husbands, Olive “Lolly” and Michael Tuminello and Desiree and Carl Goodbar, and six brothers, Dr. John S. Dupont Jr. and Erin Dupont, Frank J. Dupont, William E. “Bill” and Alexia Dupont, Stephen O. “Talon” and Donna Dupont, James Jude Dupont, and Charles Denis and Eva Dupont. He also has a special first cousin Ernest “Bo” Hopmann III, wife Lisa, daughters Elizabeth and Anita, and companion Janet Bentley.
Tody Dupont never met a stranger. And no matter where he went in life, he would often be late—always maintaining he was “worth the wait.” Tody made it to Heaven much too early. The many friends and family who were there to greet him must have been pleasantly surprised at, finally, not having to wait on Tody. But those of us whom he leaves behind are left with little comfort. His departure has left a deep void in our lives and the legal community. Tody was truly one-of-a-kind, both in and out of the courtroom, and will be sorely missed.
A memorial service will be held at 10AM on Tuesday, April 19, 2011, at First Baptist Church of Houston, 7401 Katy Freeway, Houston, Texas, 77024.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made in Tody’s name to either the Make a Wish Foundation, Texas Gulf Coast & Louisiana Chapter, or the Anita Rodeheaver Memorial Scholarship, International Association of Clerks, Recorders, Election Officials and Treasurers.
Rest in eternal peace, Tody.
Provided to the Athletic Network by Edward Pratt April 20, 2011
Mr. Edward A. Pratt, Vice President for Student Affairs
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Tody Dupont Newsletter by Ed Pratt
Dwight and I attended the service at Houston’s First Baptist Church. There were 2 huge screens in the church that showed pictures of Tody as you waited for the service, this was for at least one hour before the service and there was no wake, visiting family or anything before the service.
One of the prominent pictures was the GSC Championship team picture. At the wake after the service, there were at least 2 huge boards of pictures of Tody throughout his life.
One huge board was nothing but Tody in uniform, at football banquet, with the Headhunters, and articles of the time from the Advertiser mentioning his outstanding play in various games as well as interceptions he had made at various games the articles were referring to Ragin Bulldogs, the first of the transition to Ragin Cajun, was written all over the articles and of course on McNaspy stadium, which was the backdrop of the GSC Championship picture. Picture taken in the stadium.
Thanks Ed for recognizing Tody Dupont. He was on the team that began the winning streak that built Cajun Field Stadium,most people don’t even know of that era. Take care, Edward
* * * * * * * * * * *
Please click on www.athleticnetwork.net for the announcement and obituary of Tody Dupont.
Please click here for the 1965 Football photo gallery and here for the 1966 Football photo gallery.
If you wish to contribute to his living memorial, please email the Athletic Network and your words will be added to the footnote section of his profile. Thank you.
The Athletic Network encourages stories and pictures of the athletic program to be sent to us in a jpeg format – with as much identification as possible – and it will be reviewed for posting on the website.
Thank you, Ed Pratt, for providing the information on your teammate, Tody Dupont. This is an example of why the Athletic Network is referred to as “your network” – because you all are instrumental in making it happen.
Peace, Ed Dugas
Dr. Ed Dugas, Coordinator
Athletic Network www.athleticnetwork.net
Email: athleticnetwork@louisiana.edu
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 44572
Lafayette, LA 70504
Office Address:
Rm 211, Martin Hall
104 East University Circle
Lafayette, LA 70503
337-482-6266 (Office)
337-482-6271(Fax)
