Shirley Dobson
Shirley Dobson, wife of Dr. James Dobson, is
nationally recognized for her leadership skills and her many contributions to women’s
affairs, Christian organizations, and the institution of the family. Former President
Ronald Reagan invited Mrs. Shirley Dobson to the White House for a Christian Women’s
Leadership Conference in 1988. Also in that year she was awarded the Second Annual
Maggie Sloane Crawford Award by Olivet Nazarene University in Kankakee, Illinois.
In May 1989 she received an Honorary Doctor of Humanities from Asbury Theological
Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky; in September 1992 Shirley Dobson was honored with the Christian
Woman of the Year Award; in May 1995 she received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from
Biola University in La Mirada, California; in May 1997 she received an Honorary
Doctor of Humane Letters from Huntington College in Huntington, Indiana; and in
October 2002 she received an Honorary Doctor of Humanities from Dallas Baptist University
in Dallas, Texas. Shirley Dobson was designated Churchwoman of the Year in 1996 by Religious
Heritage of America; also that year, she received the Ambassador Award from Florida
Family Council. In 1999 she received the Full-time Homemaker of the Year Award from
Eagle Forum, and in 2000 the Distinguished Achievement Award from Point Loma Nazarene
University. She was given the First Baptist Church of Dallas’ “W.A. Criswell Lifetime
Christian Citizenship Award” in 2006.
A graduate of Pasadena College, Shirley Dobson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education;
her name was included in “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities”
during both her junior and senior years. Following graduation she taught in the
Hudson and Arcadia Unified School Districts in California. After her marriage and
the birth of her first child, she chose to become a full-time mother and homemaker.
Mrs. Dobson’s outreach to Christian women has included leadership roles in
Bible Study Fellowship and other groups devoted to the study of Scripture. Shirley Dobson has
also served as Director of Women’s Ministries for a large evangelical church
and has spoken across the country about issues affecting women and families. She
was a featured speaker at Focus’ “Renewing the Heart” women’s conferences.
Currently, Mrs. Dobson serves as Chair of the National Day of Prayer Task Force.
Through the efforts of her team, more than 35,000 prayer gatherings are conducted
by approximately 40,000 volunteers across the country. Several million people participate
every year in this call to prayer for our nation, its leaders and citizens. In addition, Shirley Dobson served on the Board of Directors for Focus on the Family from 1978 through
February 2009 and is now an emeritus member.
Shirley Dobson and Gloria Gaither have co-authored a four-book series for families.
The publications are titled Making Ordinary Days Extraordinary, Creating Family
Traditions, Celebrating Special Times with Special People, and Hide it in Your Heart.
Shirley has also co-authored Nightlight: A Devotional for Couples and Nightlight
for Parents with her husband, Dr. James Dobson. Her book describing the remarkable
gift of prayer, Certain Peace in Uncertain Times, was published in 2002.
Mrs. Shirley Dobson is married to Dr. James Dobson, founder and chairman emeritus of Focus
on the Family. They have two grown children, Danae and Ryan. Ryan and his wife,
Laura, have a son, Lincoln Cash. Dr. James Dobson and Shirley Dobson reside in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
