DavesPaper.com | by David Ireland | August 22, 2025
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO — Dr. James Clayton Dobson Jr., the psychologist, author, and broadcaster once called “the nation’s most influential evangelical leader” by The New York Times, passed away at his Colorado Springs home on August 21, 2025. He was 89.
Dr. Dobson was best known as the founder of Focus on the Family, which he led from 1977 until 2010, and later as the voice behind Family Talk, his daily radio program produced by the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. His programs, translated into multiple languages, were broadcast on thousands of stations worldwide and at one point were heard by an estimated 220 million listeners in more than 160 countries.
Though never ordained as a minister, Dobson’s voice carried into pulpits, living rooms, and the halls of power. In the 1980s and 1990s, his cultural influence placed him alongside names such as Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. Slate magazine once described him as “America’s most influential evangelical leader,” noting his role in mobilizing conservative Christians in what he often called the “Civil War of Values.”
From Shreveport to the National Stage
Born April 21, 1936, in Shreveport, Louisiana, Dobson grew up in a family of Nazarene ministers. He often said he “learned to pray before he learned to talk” and credited an altar call at the age of three or four during one of his father’s revival meetings as the moment he gave his life to Christ.
After excelling as a student-athlete at Pasadena College (now Point Loma Nazarene University), where he captained the tennis team and met his wife Shirley, Dobson earned his doctorate in psychology from the University of Southern California. He went on to serve as Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at USC and spent 17 years at the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.
In 1970, his first major book, Dare to Discipline, launched him into the national spotlight. The book’s defense of firm parental authority—including the controversial use of corporal punishment—became a cornerstone of his teaching. Later works, such as The Strong-Willed Child and Bringing Up Boys, established him as a trusted voice for Christian families navigating cultural change.
The Focus on the Family Era
In 1977, Dobson founded Focus on the Family, a ministry that grew into a global multimedia organization with a budget that topped $100 million by the mid-1990s. The organization not only published magazines and hosted conferences, but also produced daily radio programs and political initiatives.
Dobson’s advocacy went beyond family counseling. He founded the Family Research Council in 1981 and later helped launch the Family Policy Alliance, as well as a network of state-level Family Policy Councils. These organizations mobilized millions of conservative Christians to engage in politics, especially on issues of abortion, marriage, gender roles, and religious liberty. His ability to rally supporters was so strong that during the Carter administration, 80,000 letters from his listeners secured him a seat at the White House Conference on Families.
While praised by many for defending biblical values, his outspoken stances against feminism, abortion rights, and LGBTQ rights drew criticism and controversy. Supporters admired his courage in speaking against cultural tides; detractors accused him of intolerance. Either way, Dobson’s ability to shape national debates was undeniable.
A Counselor to Families—and Presidents
Dobson advised multiple U.S. presidents, including Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush, and served on government panels addressing pornography, child development, and family policy. At the same time, he maintained his role as a trusted counselor to everyday parents. For millions, his advice on marriage, parenting, and Christian living was a lifeline in times of confusion.
Gary Bauer, longtime colleague and senior vice president of public policy at the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, reflected:
“Dr. Dobson basically started the pro-family movement. Without him, America’s cultural landscape would look very different. His fingerprints are everywhere—from ministries and organizations that exist because of his encouragement, to the countless children and marriages saved because of his message.”
A Personal Legacy
Beyond the microphone, Dobson’s greatest joys were his 65-year marriage to Shirley, his children Danae and Ryan, and his grandchildren, whom he lovingly called “Jimpa.” Friends recall his warmth, humor, and unwavering devotion to both family and faith.
Shortly before his passing, he shared words he had penned decades earlier—words that now serve as his own epitaph:
“The accumulation of wealth, even if I could achieve it, is an insufficient reason for living. When I reach the end of my days, I must look backward on something more meaningful… a loving family, a consistent investment in the lives of people, and an earnest attempt to serve the God who made me. Nothing else makes much sense.”
Remembering an American Pivotal Voice
For admirers and critics alike, Dr. Dobson’s legacy is immense. His books, broadcasts, and advocacy profoundly shaped the American evangelical movement and influenced debates over family, gender, and morality for nearly five decades.
While his positions sparked controversy, his commitment to what he saw as biblical truth never wavered. “He can’t be replaced,” Roger Marsh, host of Family Talk, said in a remembrance broadcast. “But his legacy will live on through the ministries he founded and the lives he touched.”
Dr. Dobson is survived by his wife Shirley, their children, and grandchildren. His funeral arrangements will be announced in the coming days.
He is remembered not only as a counselor to families but also as a man who sought above all to hear the words of his Savior: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
