William Lawrence Adrian

William Lawrence Adrian (April 16, 1883 – February 13, 1972) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Nashville in Tennessee from 1936 to 1969.

Biography

Early life William Adrian was born on April 16, 1883, in Sigourney, Iowa, to Nicholas and Mary (Paulus) Adrian. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa in 1906. He then studied at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

Priesthood Adrian was ordained to the priesthood in Rome by Cardinal Pietro Respighi for the Diocese of Davenport on April 15, 1911. Adrian received his episcopal consecration on April 16, 1936, from Archbishop Amelto Cicognani at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport, Iowa. Bishops Henry Rohlman and Moses E. Kiley served as co-consecrators.

Adrian, who became known as a "man who gets things done," oversaw the creation of several parishes, acquisition of a new episcopal residence in East Nashville, Tennessee, remodeling of the Cathedral, and establishment of a diocesan newspaper and the National Council of Catholic Women. In 1954, Adrian ordered the racial desegregation of all parochial schools in Nashville and Davidson County, far ahead of public school desegregation. He attended the Second Vatican Council in Rome from 1962 to 1965.

Retirement and death On September 4, 1969, Pope Paul VI accepted Adrian's resignation as bishop of Nashville and named him titular bishop of Elo. Adrian resigned that post on January 13, 1971. William Adrian died in Nashville on February 13, 1972, at age 88.