James L. Christopher, MD

Dr. James L. Christopher has been a member of the medical community in Pointe Coupee Parish for fifty years. He first came to New Roads in 1964 and began practicing family medicine and general surgery. He has been married to his wife, Dianne for 43 years. They have three children: James Warren, MD; Leslie, JD; and Regan MD; seven grandchildren and two affectionate Airedales.

Jim is a 1956 graduate of the University of Texas (Microbiology). He is a 1960 graduate ofLSU School of Medicine, New Orleans, where he was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Honors Medical Society. He completed his Internship and Surgical Residence Program at Confederate Memorial Hospital in Shreveport in 1963. He has been a fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice since its establishment. He was for 30 years Pointe Coupee’s delegate to the State Medical Society and served one term as President of the District Medical Society. He was Assistant Professor of Medicine from 1966-2006 at LSU's Family Practice Residence Program at Earl K. Long Hospital.

Jim was born in Baton Rouge in 1932, the youngest of four children. His father was an LSD Professor of Bacteriology who reenlisted in the service at the onset of World War II. As the son of an army officer, Jim was raised around the world, from Cheneyville to China. After completing high school in Portland, Oregon, he served in the United States Navy as a Medical Corpsman. This training enabled him to work his way through college and medical school as a Lab Technician. (He would still like to meddle in the lab if Liz would let him!)

A member of the Episcopal Church, he has served on the Vestry, as Senior Warden, and Sunday School teacher at St. Paul's Holy Trinity Church in New Roads. He now divides his time between St. Stephens in Innis, Grace Church in St. Francisville, Nativity in Rosedale, and St. Albans on the LSU campus.

Jim is a member of Livonia Masonic Lodge, Baton Rouge Scottish Rite, and Acacia Shrine Temple. He is a Member Emeritus of the New Roads Lions Club and reigned as its Mardi Gras King in 1976. Always Civic-minded, he served for several years on the New Roads Planning and Zoning Commission and chaired it for two terms.

Jim is a Master Gardener whose tomatoes and citrus are legendary in all of New Roads.

An avid duck hunter, Jim can be found most cold and rainy days in a duck blind at Tropical Gardens Hunting Club. He has passed on this love of wildlife and the outdoors to his son and grandson. They, like he, are convinced that Paradise is located on a marsh in Pecan Island!

Through the years, Jim has coached hundreds of children in football, soccer, softball, and has even been cheerleading dad. He has been team doctor for all the area's football teams. For some time, he was New Roads' Assistant Scout Master.

While his children were in Elementary School, Jim spent many a night in a livestock barn with 4-H sheep and pigs. These were raised, much to his neighbors' chagrin, in his dog pen. Other denizen of his back yard included, Uncle Jack the donkey, Rosie the goat, and Petunia the watch-goose.

In his retirement, Jim plans to travel, polish up on his kipling, and aspires to one day own a Longhorn!