William Murphy

William Francis Murphy (May 11, 1885 – February 7, 1950) was an American Catholic prelate who served as the first bishop of Saginaw in Michigan from 1938 until his death in 1950.

Biography

Early life William Murphy was born on May 11, 1885, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to William and Mary (née Gibson) Murphy. His parents were Irish immigrants who came to the United States from County Wexford. One of ten children, Murphy was the youngest child and only son; three of his sisters became nuns.

Murphy then studied at St. Jerome's College in Kitchener, Ontario and at Assumption College in Sandwich, Ontario. He celebrated his first mass at the tomb of Saint Peter in St. Peter's Basilica.

In addition to his pastoral duties, Murphy served as master of ceremonies to Bishop Michael Gallagher. In 1937, Archbishop Edward Mooney named Murphy as Coughlin's censor. Murphy served as intermediary between Mooney and Coughlin in negotiations about Coughlin's return to radio.

Bishop of Saginaw On February 26, 1938, Murphy was appointed the first bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Saginaw by Pope Pius XI.