Francis Doyle Gleeson

Francis Doyle Gleeson (January 17, 1895 – April 30, 1983) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was the first bishop of the Diocese of Fairbanks in Alaska from 1962 to 1968, previously serving as vicar apostolic of the Alaska Vicariate from 1948 to 1962.

Biography

Early life Francis Gleeson was born on January 17, 1895, in Carrollton, Missouri, to Charles and Mary (Doyle) Gleason, but later moved with his family to Yakima, Washington. He received his early education at the parochial school of St. Joseph's Church in Yakima. Gleeson then attended Marquette Catholic High School in Yakima before entering Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1912, and studied philosophy at Mount St. Michael Scholasticate in Spokane. Gleeson then went to study theology at St. Francis Xavier College in Oña, Spain. Returning to Washington, he served as rector of Bellarmine Preparatory School in Tacoma, Washington. Francis Gleeson died on April 30, 1983.