William Aloysius O'Connor

William Aloysius O'Connor (December 27, 1903 – November 14, 1983) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois from 1949 to 1975.

Biography

Early life William O'Connor was born on December 27, 1903, in Chicago, Illinois, to John and Mary (née Murphy) O'Connor. His brother was longtime Chicago newsman Len O'Connor. William O'Connor attended Archbishop Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago from 1917 to 1922, and St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, from 1922 to 1928. He then furthered his studies in Rome at the Propaganda College, obtaining a Doctor of Sacred Theology degree in 1930. He held diocesan synods in 1953 and 1963.

Retirement and death On July 22, 1975, Pope Paul VI accepted O'Connor's resignation as bishop of Springfield in Illinois. William O'Connor died after suffering a cardiac arrest at St. John's Hospital in Springfield on November 14, 1983, at age 79.