09/01/2026
Louisiana Legends Fest proudly announces John Robert Moreland M.D., whose distinguished career in orthopaedic surgery has touched thousands of lives and whose commitment to preserving his Claiborne Parish heritage continues today, as its 2026 Louisiana Legend! 🎶
Born and raised in Homer, Moreland grew up working alongside his four siblings in his father’s Piggly Wiggly supermarket and graduated as valedictorian of Homer High School.
He earned a BS in Chemistry from Baylor University in Waco, Texas and his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. After surgical training at Los Angeles County–USC Medical Center, and Orthopedic residency at UCLA he then had fellowships in joint replacement surgery at UCLA (one year) and in London England (one year).
After medical school Moreland then joined the orthopaedic faculty at UCLA and became nationally and internationally recognized for hip and knee replacement surgery, particularly complex revision procedures. His patients ranged from people seeking relief from debilitating joint disease to some of the most recognizable names in entertainment, contributing to his reputation as a “surgeon to the stars.” ✨
Dr. Moreland developed specialized surgical instruments for difficult hip and knee revision procedures. The Moreland Revision Instruments became recognized tools in orthopaedic surgery and are used in major hospitals across the country.
The Moreland family’s Claiborne Parish roots extend to the early 1850s. Migrating from Georgia to Claiborne Parish, the historic Moreland Homeplace, associated with generations of the family, remains one of the parish’s important surviving historic residences. The broader family story also includes Spring Lake, associated with the Moreland and Phillips families.
Dr. Moreland acquired the Moreland Homeplace in 1991 from his uncle, S. S. Moreland, Jr. and has devoted significant effort to its preservation and restoration, continuing that work through today.
In 2025, he also became instrumental in the cleanup and restoration of Old Homer Cemetery, established as a public burial ground by the Claiborne Parish Police Jury in 1850. The cemetery, where the last burial occurred in 1995, contains the graves of many Moreland ancestors as well as generations of Homer residents.
The medical profession knows Dr. John Robert Moreland for his contributions to orthopaedic surgery.
His patients know him for restoring mobility and independence.
His hometown knows him as one of its own.
And on October 17, 2026, Homer and Claiborne Parish will honor Dr. John Robert Moreland as a Louisiana Legend.
Read his full story: https://www.legendsfest.us/legends 🎶
