The Rev. James C. Southard, 72, of Mettler Street, a retired Toledo Catholic priest and former faculty member of Central Catholic High School, died April 1 in his home. A priest in the Toledo Catholic diocese 40 years, Father Southard retired in 1983. Prior to his ordination, he had been a professional musician. In the 1920s and 1930s, he provided musical accompaniment for silent films at the Paramount Theater and also was an organist for WSPD radio. Prior to being assigned to his last parish at St. Hedwig, Father Southard has been pastor of several other parishes, including St. Elizabeth in Richfield Center, Ohio; St. Ignatius, Oregon; Our Lady of Lourdes Church, New London, Ohio; St. Louis in Custar, Our Lady of Guadalupe in South Toledo. He was also a former associate pastor at St. Francis DeSales, in downtown Toledo. A native Toledoan, he was a graduate of Libbey High School, attended Denison University, and earned a bachelor's degree at the former at the former DeSales College. He also earned a master's degree in theology at Fordham University, and a master of arts degree in religious studies at St. Mary Seminary in Baltimore. Md. He was a member of the American Guild of Organists, Lambda Chi Alpha, Phi Mu Alpha, and Sigma Delta Pi fraternities. Surviving is his sister, Mrs. Doris G. Doehm.