Dr. Louis Joseph James, Sr.

“Dr. Louis J. James, Sr., is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana having served his community and state with distinction as a physician, community and state activist, and as a ‘people’s caregiver’ for more than fifty years.

Dr. James was baptized by the late Reverend J. A. Bacots at Mount Zion First Baptist Church on the first Sunday in June of 1932.  He has maintained an active membership with Mount Zion.  He has been a member of the Board of Trustees, having served as secretary for 38 years.  A loyal member to the December Month Club, regular participant with the midweek bible study and one of the first Boy Scouts of the church under the leadership of the late Dr. Harrison D. Lawless.  He also served as the Scoutmaster for Troop 40.

He attended the public schools of East Baton Rouge having graduated from McKinley Senior High School in 1938.  He continued his studies and graduated from Southern University in 1942 and pursued his interest in medicine by attending Howard University and graduated with his medical degree in 1946.  He did his postgraduate training at Homer G. Phillips in St. Louis, Missouri.

Dr. James began his medical practice in Baton Rouge during the fall of 1947.  He established the first prenatal, postnatal and pediatric clinics in East Baton Rouge Parish under the auspices of the United States Public Health Center for black patients.  The late Mrs. Louise Bass Davis served along with Dr. James as his nurse and they did home deliveries.

His practice was interrupted for two years while he was on active duty with the United States Medical Corps.  He was commissioned as a captain in the medical unit of Karlsruhe, Germany.  He received commendations from the United States Pentagon for outstanding services for having discriminatory practices against black soldiers brought to the attention of the commanding officer.

For many years, Dr. James shared center stage as one of the leading black physicians in the Greater Baton Rouge area.  He was one of the leaders who fought for desegregation of the Baton Rouge General and Lady of the Lake hospitals.  Dr. James, along with the late Doctors Leo S. Butler, Montrol Cummings, Audry K. Fleet, James T. Bernard, Alvin Williams,  and Dr. William Yates organized a medical association for black physicians.  This group of pioneers held Sunday meetings with a few white physicians to gain the right to admit black patients to the local hospitals.  This was during a period when it was unpopular for blacks and whites to meet together.

Dr. James maintained his office in the South Baton Rouge community very near the place of his birth.  His primary reason was to be accessible to his parents.

Dr. James’ service to his community is very extensive having served on many boards and holding membership in numerous organizations.  He has also received numerous awards for his outstanding service.  Among them are:”

¨      In 1960, supported Southern University students during a sit-in demonstration at a downtown department store lunch counter.  Assisted in providing money to post bond their release from jail.