Soul of 78- Dr. John Odle
Podiatrist, Jasper Podiatry Center
Words by Nick Norris | Image by Justin Hunter
For 31 years, Dr. John Odle has been a trusted presence in Walker County, diagnosing and treating lower leg and foot disorders at Jasper Podiatry Center, P.C. Over those decades, Jasper has also become home for the Odle family, as patients have grown into friends.
“I’ve seen patients come in, then have later been able to treat their children, and even their grandchildren,” Odle says. “I always think that’s pretty neat.”
Those long-term relationships, paired with his dedication to patient care, are what he considers most meaningful about his career.
“I think what makes podiatry different is the satisfaction of offering some patients instant relief,” he explains. “Trimming a callus or taking care of an ingrown toenail can have immediate effects, whereas in some other fields of medicine, there might be prescriptions and shots involved that take time to help you overcome a cold or whatnot. It’s nice to immediately hear a patient say that they haven’t felt this good in years after a small procedure. And it makes me feel good knowing I can help people out, especially when I get to see that instant improvement for them.”
Though Odle is now deeply rooted in Jasper, it wasn’t always home. Born in Wichita, Kansas, he spent most of his childhood in Birmingham, Alabama, before attending Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. From there, he and his wife, Cheryl, moved to Chicago, Illinois, for medical school and then to New Orleans, Louisiana, for his surgical residency. After completing training, he chose to return to Alabama—partly because of the birth of their first child, Charles, in Chicago, and partly because both of their extended families lived in the state.
“I started working for another podiatry practice in Jasper in 1995,” Odle recalls. “We had a six-month-old son at the time and were tired of relocating. We wanted to put roots down somewhere, and I was familiar with the area, having grown up in Birmingham.”
“I used to see myself ending up back in Nashville,” he says. “I think the town where you go to college holds so many fond memories that you think you would like to settle there, but we realized that Jasper was a great place to raise a family, so we decided to stay, and we’re glad that we did. Fortunately, Jasper isn’t too far from Nashville, so we still visit often.”
Today, Charles is a charter captain and middle school science teacher in the Florida Keys, while his sister, Katherine, is a fourth-year veterinary student at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, set to graduate in May 2026. With both children pursuing careers outside Walker County, one might wonder why John and Cheryl haven’t moved too.
“Because Jasper has become home,” Dr. Odle says warmly. “This is where some of my most rewarding years took place, from coaching little league teams to being a scoutmaster for a dozen years to helping coach the Jasper swim team. I’m more proud of my kids than anything in this world, and Jasper is where I got to watch them grow up.”
As for the future, Odle isn’t sure where retirement will eventually take him. For now, his focus remains on his patients and on the community that has shaped both his career and his family’s life for the past 31 years. 78