William Edwin Franklin

William Edwin Franklin (May 3, 1930 – April 10, 2026) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, He served as an auxiliary bishop of Archdiocese of Dubuque in Iowa from 1987 to 1993, and as bishop of the Diocese of Davenport, also in Iowa, from 1993 to 2006.

Biography Early life Franklin was born on May 3, 1930, in Parnell, Iowa, the son of John and Matilda (Milholin) Franklin. He was educated in the local parochial school and at the former St. Patrick High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He graduated from Loras College in Dubuque, and studied for the priesthood at Mount St. Bernard's Seminary in Dubuque.

Priesthood Franklin was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Dubuque on February 4, 1956, by Archbishop Leo Binz in St. Raphael's Cathedral in Dubuque. From 1959 to 1974, Franklin was a faculty member at Wahlert High School in Dubuque. From 1974 to 1976 he served as associate pastor of St. Mary's Parish and a member of the faculty of Columbus High School, both in Waterloo, Iowa.

Franklin served as the pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Fayette, Iowa and St. Francis Xavier Parish in Hawkeye, Iowa from 1976 to 1980. Franklin became pastor in 1980 of Immaculate Conception Parish in Gilbertville, Iowa before becoming pastor of St. Edward Parish in Waterloo, Iowa. In 1984, he was assigned as dean of the Waterloo Deanery.

Auxiliary Bishop of Dubuque On January 29, 1987, Franklin was named titular bishop of Surista and as an auxiliary bishop of Dubuque by Pope John Paul II. He was ordained a bishop by Archbishop Daniel Kucera on April 1, 1987, in St. Raphael's Cathedral in Dubuque. Archbishop Emeritus James Byrne and Auxiliary Bishop Francis Dunn acted as the principal co-consecrators. After his ordination, Franklin was assigned to be the episcopal vicar of the Waterloo Region of the archdiocese. His office was in St. Joseph Rectory in Waterloo.

On October 10, 2006, the diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. According to Franklin, this was to properly manage the settlement of sexual abuse lawsuits facing the diocese.

Retirement and death On October 12, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Franklin's letter of resignation as bishop of Davenport. Franklin Hall, a residence hall at St. Ambrose University in Davenport is named in his honor. Franklin died on April 10, 2026, at the age of 95. His funeral was celebrated at Sacred Heart Cathedral and he was buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Davenport.