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                                                                     EXHIBIT 5.1

                               PALMER & DODGE LLP
                               One Beacon Street
                          Boston, Massachusetts  02108

Telephone: (617) 573-0100                             Facsimile:  (617) 227-4420


   
                                 July 31, 1996
    


Lamar Advertising Company
555 Corporate Boulevard
Baton Rouge, Louisiana  70808

         We are rendering this opinion in connection with the Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (the "Registration Statement") filed by Lamar Advertising
Company (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, with the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on June 7,
1996.  The Registration Statement relates to up to 5,445,250 shares of shares
of the Company's Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value (the "Shares").  We
understand that the Shares are to be offered and sold in the manner described
in the Registration Statement.

         We have acted as your counsel in connection with the preparation of
the Registration Statement.  We are familiar with the proceedings of the Board
of Directors of the Company in connection with the authorization, issuance and
sale of the Shares.  We have examined such other documents as we consider
necessary to render this opinion.

         Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares have
been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered by the Company against
payment therefor at the price to be determined pursuant to the resolutions
adopted by the Board of Directors, will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as a part of the
Registration Statement and to the reference of our firm under the caption
"Certain Legal Matters" in the Prospectus filed as part thereof.

                                        Very truly yours,


                                        /s/ Palmer & Dodge LLP