James Dobson, the Focus on the Family founder who turned “family values” into a household phrase and political rallying cry, died Thursday morning at age 89. The James Dobson Family

James Dobson, a child psychologist who founded the conservative ministry Focus on the Family and was a politically influential campaigner against abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, died on Thursday. He was 89. His death was confirmed by the Dr. James Dobson Family Institute.

James Dobson founded Focus on the Family and his legacy is defined by his longtime commitment to educating evangelicals on traditional family values.