William Shannahan : Biography Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

William Shannahan

Rt. Rev. Msgr. William P. Shannahan, PA
Born	February 2, 1870 Wilton, Iowa, USA
Died	October 22, 1937 Davenport, Iowa, USA
Nationality	American
Known for	President of St. Ambrose College, Davenport, Iowa

William P. Shannahan (February 2, 1870 – October 22, 1937) was a late 19th and early 20th century Catholic priest in the United States who was the third president of St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, from 1906 to 1915.

Biography

Shannahann, whose nickname was "Big Bill", was born in Wilton, Iowa, and raised in Williamsburg, Iowa. He was the St. Ambrose football team's first captain, and graduated from the institution in 1896. He studied for the priesthood at St. Paul Seminary and was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Davenport on May 8, 1899, in St. Paul, Minnesota, by Archbishop John Ireland.^[1] After ordination he spent a year in graduate studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.

Shannahan taught in the philosophy department before taking his role as the president. During his term, the second east wing of Ambrose Hall was built in 1908, which contained an auditorium, classrooms, and living quarters. After leaving St. Ambrose, Shannahan was named pastor at St. Patrick's Church in Iowa City where he served until he was appointed as the rector and pastor of Sacred Heart Cathedral and vicar general of the diocese in 1932.^[2]

Bishop Henry Rohlman nominated Shannahan twice for Papal honors; the first time as a Domestic Prelate and the second time as a Protonotary Apostolic. Both honors were bestowed by Pope Pius XI.^[3] In the 1930s he worked with Msgrs. Martin Cone and George Giglinger to develop a local radio program on WOC that featured Catholic topics.^[4] Msgr. Shannahan died on October 22, 1937, at the age of 67.

References

^ Schmidt, Madeleine M. (1981). Seasons of Growth: History of the Diocese of Davenport. Davenport, Iowa: Diocese of Davenport. p. 166.
^ "Past Presidents". St. Ambrose University. Retrieved 2007-03-21.
^ Schmidt, 211
^ Schmidt, 205

Academic offices
Preceded by John Flannagan	President of St. Ambrose University 1906–1915	Succeeded by William Hannon

Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport

Bishops

Ordinaries: John McMullen; Henry Cosgrove; James J. Davis; Henry P. Rohlman; Ralph L. Hayes; Gerald F. O’Keefe; William E. Franklin; Martin J. Amos; Thomas R. Zinkula

Bishop-elect: Dennis Gerard Walsh

Auxiliary: Edward Howard

Churches

List: List of churches in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Davenport

Cathedral: Sacred Heart Cathedral

Parishes: Church of St. John the Baptist, Burlington; St. Paul's Church, Burlington; St. Anthony’s Church, Davenport; Holy Family Parish, Fort Madison; St. Patrick's Church, Georgetown; St. Mary’s Church, Iowa City; St. Patrick's Church, Iowa City; Church of All Saints, Keokuk; St. Mary's Church, Nichols; St. Mary of the Visitation Church, Ottumwa; St. Mary's Church, Riverside

Former parishes: St. Joseph's Church, Bauer; Saints Peter and Paul Church, Clear Creek; St. Boniface Church, Clinton; St. Irenaeus Church, Clinton; St. Joseph's Church, Davenport; St. Mary’s Church, Davenport; St. Joseph's Church, Fort Madison; St. Michael's Church, Holbrook; Saints Peter and Paul Church, Solon

Education