William Scully

William Aloysius Scully (August 6, 1894 – January 5, 1969) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of Albany in New York State from 1954 until his death in 1969. He previously served as coadjutor bishop of Albany from 1945 to 1954.

Biography

Early life William Scully was born on August 6, 1894, in New York City. He attended Cathedral College in New York City and St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York. He also studied at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Scully as a curate and afterwards pastor at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Manhattan. He later became pastor of that parish. Cardinal Francis Spellman appointed Scully as secretary of education for the archdiocese in 1940. The Vatican elevated Scully to the rank of domestic prelate in 1941. He established a total of thirteen parishes, twenty-one elementary schools, six high schools and expanded two others, a nursing home, and Maria College in Albany. He also headed the New York State Catholic Welfare Committee and the Catholic Charities division of the National Catholic Welfare Council.

In 1963, Sculley was forced to return to Albany from the Second Vatican Council in Rome due to fatigue. He delegated the active administration of the diocese to an auxiliary bishop in 1966.

Death and legacy Scully died on January 5, 1969, from bronchial pneumonia at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany, at age 74. Governor Nelson Rockefeller described his death as "a grievous loss—not only to those of his faith but to all of us in New York State."