Update:
SmoothLC, we can no longer be friends until you undo whatever voodoo spell you placed on me by asking about front plates. I will need your address to send you a repair bill now. I got to meet a state trooper today who looked around my vehicle. After a quick inspection he said, "I know you have that light bar up front, but you really need to put your license plate on there too." So theres our answer, yes you do need one. However given the circumstances of our meeting it was the least of his worries, and I don't believe her would have ver stopped me for not having one.
On a side note the wife, toddler, and I were enjoying the nicer weather here in TX and decided to go for a windows down sunday drive. The guy behind me decided we no longer needed a nice day when he saw us while turning off the road. He was in a lifted 2000 F250 with a ranch hand steel full replacement front bumper (oddly enough the exact same bumper I have on my F350) pulling a trailer and I guess didn't notice until too late and couldn't go around or stop, so sadly we helped him slow down. Everyone involved was okay, our little boy in the back in a rear facing car seat didn't make a noise, even when the rear window exploded. It hurts looking at the LC all busted up in the driveway. Rear upper hatch opens, lower one is jammed shut. Right rear quarter panel has a dent and ripples from being shoved forward. The direct point of impact was right above the rear bumper, so I don't see there being any frame damage. However thanks to this very unfortunate event I now know for certain that you need a front plate. Heard it straight from the state troopers mouth.