James Dobson, religious right figure and Focus on the Family founder, dies at 89

Dr. James Dobson, who is the founder of Focus on the Family, has passed away at the age of 89. The Christian family psychologist-turned-media mogul built his career in public ministry and even advised five U.S. presidents. He passed away Thursday morning, as announced by the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute (JDFI).

Gary Bauer, who is the senior vice president of public policy at the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute, stated in a news release:

“Dr. Dobson was a pioneer—a man of deep conviction whose voice shaped the way generations view faith, family and culture. His bold leadership, integrity, and compassion helped equip countless families to thrive in a world of shifting values. He was a mentor, a counselor, and a steady voice of truth in turbulent times.”

Dr. James Dobson’s life and legacy

Dr. Dobson’s legacy can be attributed to his commitment to educating evangelicals on traditional family values. This placed him squarely in the middle of quite a few debates about abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.

Dobson founded Focus on the Family in 1977, and he started his namesake institute in 2010 after leaving Focus on the Family. Focus had more than 1,000 employees at its peak and gave Dobson a platform to weigh in on legislation. He advised White House panels and advocated against laws to ban conversion therapy to “cure” gay people. He also continued with the Family Talk radio show, which is nationally syndicated, carried by 1,500 radio outlets, and has more than half a million listeners weekly.

He is survived by his wife Shirley, with whom he had been for 64 years, their children Danae and Ryan, daughter-in-law Laura, and two grandchildren.

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