A prominent evangelical leader, psychologist, and former adviser to former President Donald Trump, James Dobson died Thursday morning at the age of 89, leaving behind a decades-long legacy that shaped American faith, family life, and politics.Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1936, Dobson first worked as a clinical psychologist before becoming a leading voice in evangelical Christianity. In the mid-1970s, he founded Focus on the Family, a ministry devoted to promoting traditional family values and Christian teachings on marriage and parenting.
Through books, counseling resources, and a daily radio program broadcast on thousands of stations, Dobson reached millions of households across North America and internationally. His program was eventually translated into dozens of languages and distributed in more than 160 countries.Over the years, Dobson authored more than 70 books and frequently spoke out about issues such as marriage, parenting, religious liberty, and the protection of unborn life. His work helped mobilize many evangelical Christians to engage more actively in cultural and political debates.
After leaving Focus on the Family in 2010, he founded the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, continuing his outreach through radio and public policy efforts.Dobson is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley, along with his children and grandchildren.
