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                                                                    Exhibit 5.3


                         [Palmer & Dodge LLP Letterhead]



                                December 22, 1998


Lamar Advertising Company
555 Corporate Boulevard
Baton Rouge, Louisiana  70808

         Reference is made to our opinion dated April 20, 1998 and included as
Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration
Statement") filed on April 21, 1998 by Lamar Advertising Company (the
"Company"), a Delaware corporation, with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"). We are rendering this supplemental opinion in connection with the
prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement") filed on December 22, 1998
by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities
Act. The Prospectus Supplement relates to the offering by the Company of up to
6,900,000 shares of the Company's Class A Common Stock, $0.001 par value (the
"Shares"), which Shares are covered by the Registration Statement. We understand
that the Shares are to be offered and sold in the manner described in the
Prospectus Supplement.

         We have acted as your counsel in connection with the preparation of the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus Supplement. We are familiar with the
proceedings of the Board of Directors of the Company and its Committees 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 as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, 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 "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus Supplement.

                                     Very truly yours,



                                     /s/ Palmer & Dodge LLP