Hugh L. Lamb

Hugh Louis Lamb (October 6, 1890 – December 8, 1959) was an American Catholic prelate who served as the first bishop of Greensburg in Pennsylvania from 1951 until his death in 1959. He previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania from 1936 to 1951.

Biography

Early life Lamb was born on October 6, 1890, in Modena, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Coatesville High School in Caln Township, Pennsylvania, in 1907 and then enrolled in St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He then went to Rome to reside at the Pontifical North American College while studying at the Pontifical Urbaniana University. He obtained a doctorate in sacred theology in 1915.

Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia On December 15, 1935, Lamb was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia and titular bishop of Elo by Pope Pius XI. As an auxiliary bishop, Lamb also served as vicar general of the archdiocese until 1951.

Bishop of Greensburg On May 28, 1951, Pope Pius XII named Lamb as the first bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Greensburg. However, due to the unexpected death of Cardinal Dougherty on May 31st, Lamb remained in Philadelphia to run the archdiocese as apostolic administrator. He was relieved of this position in November 1951, when the Vatican named Bishop John Francis O'Hara as Dougherty's successor.

During his tenure in Greensburg, Lamb spent nearly $6.5 million on constructing or upgrading schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Eight new schools, including Greensburg Central Catholic High School, were created and 10 new parishes were established. Lamb was also instrumental in the founding of Jeannette District Memorial Hospital in Greensburg, donating over $300,000 for its construction and securing the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill to staff it.

Hugh Lamb died at Jeanette Hospital after suffering a heart attack on December 8, 1959, at age 69.