John Harry Culpepper, Jr.
Writer
The Valley Town Crier
McAllen, Pharr, Texas
6 Sep 1989
The Valley, with its many geographical advantages, has become
home to quite a variety of people. Among these can be found many
artists, musicians, sculptors and writers. Among the writers is John
Culpepper. His first exposure to the beauties of the area were in the
mid-fifties when he was instrumental in completing the first natural gas
pipelines from Mexico to the United States. He retired here in 1981.
Ever since he was a small boy, he was quick with stories and poems. His
first published work was a tribute to his grandfather printed in the
Pine Bluff Commercial in his native Arkansas.
After some encouragement, this was rapidly followed by a similar poem
dedicated to his grandmother. Years passed and his experiences and
travels prompted him to submit work and ideas to various publishers and
other interested parties. Soon his ideas began to appear in written
form. Some by his own effort and some by that of others. Articles and
stories ranging from this childhood growing-up in rural Arkansas to the
soul-baring tales of one man's view of the Korean War began to come from
his typewriter. He attended many writer's workshops and seminars to
perfect his writing. Then it came.
Into Each Life completed in 1978, delved deeper into his
Korean War experience than he'd gone in his previous work. A telling
tale indeed and according to Culpepper, not an easy one to write. His
latest novel, Laomi Is Not Home, is also an autobiographical
account. Well, maybe not totally true, but based on an actual set of
circumstances anyway. It is a sweet tale of a family's love and hope
lighting the shadow of racism in the 1930's through the 1950's. Laomi is
an orphaned black girl that is taken in by a white family with five
boys. The family suffers much ridicule and hatred as a result of their
new addition but stand firm against friends and other family members.
Until the end, Laomi is Not Home is a winding emotional road that
will serve as a guidepost and inspiration for years to come.
Culpepper Ancestry: John is the son of John Harry Culpepper,
Sr., son of Capos Conley Culpepper, son of John Malcolm Culpepper, son of
William Henry Culpepper, son of John William Culpepper, son of John and
Nancy Gillespie Culpepper.
Source: Daughter, Sandra Lynn Culpepper Merritt
Last revised: 18 Nov 2001
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