William Benedict Friend

William Benedict Friend (October 22, 1931 – April 2, 2015) was the first bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Shreveport, in Louisiana.

Biography

Friend was ordained on May 7, 1959 as a priest of the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham, Alabama. On August 31, 1979, Pope John Paul II appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport, and that same day was named bishop of the titular see of Pomaria. He was consecrated titular Bishop of Pomaria on October 30, 1979. On November 17, 1982, he was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport.

The Diocese of Shreveport was created on June 16, 1986, from territory carved from the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport, which itself was renamed Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana. On the same day, Bishop Friend was appointed the first Bishop of Shreveport and was installed as bishop on July 30, 1986.

On October 22, 2006, Bishop Friend sent the mandatory letter to Pope Benedict XVI resigning the diocese as he had reached the age of 75. His resignation was accepted on December 20, 2006. Bishop Friend remained at the helm of the diocese as apostolic administrator until a new bishop was appointed.

On April 1, 2008 Pope Benedict named Michael Duca as the new bishop of the diocese ending Friend's duties as apostolic administrator. On April 2, 2015, Friend died at his home in Coral Springs, Florida.

Episcopal succession