R.I.P.: Doctor James Dobson, Radio Hall of Fame Broadcaster

Doctor James Dobson (1936-2025)

Dr. James Dobson, a renowned psychologist and founder of the Christian ministry Focus on the Family, passed away Thursday morning at age 89, according to the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute (JDFI).

Recognized as one of the most influential Christian leaders of the past 50 years, Dobson advised five U.S. presidents and shaped evangelical perspectives on faith, family, and culture. 

“Dr. Dobson was a trailblazer whose conviction and compassion inspired generations,” said Gary Bauer, JDFI’s senior vice president of public policy. “His leadership equipped countless families to navigate a world of changing values with integrity and truth.”

Born in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1936, Dobson dedicated his life to strengthening marriages, parenting, and biblical values, emphasizing the family’s central role in society. In 1977, he founded Focus on the Family in Arcadia, California, growing it into a global evangelical powerhouse before relocating it to Colorado Springs in 1991. In 2010, he established JDFI to continue his mission through a more personal platform focused on broadcasting and teaching.

A Radio Hall of Fame broadcaster and New York Times best-selling author, Dobson wrote over 70 books, including The New Dare to Discipline and When God Doesn’t Make Sense, which remain widely read in Christian households. His influence extended to advising Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Donald Trump, notably serving on Trump’s Evangelical Executive Advisory Board in 2016.

Dobson’s legacy endures through his ministries, writings, and unwavering commitment to family and faith.