William Benedict Friend

His Excellency, The Most Reverend William Benedict Friend
Bishop of Shreveport titular bishop of Pomaria
Church	Roman Catholic
Diocese	Diocese of Shreveport
In office	1982–2006
Predecessor	None
Successor	Michael Duca
Orders
Ordination	May 7, 1959 by James Gibbons
Consecration	October 30, 1979 by Thomas Joseph Toolen
Personal details
Born	(1931-10-22)October 22, 1931 Miami, Florida, U.S.
Died	April 2, 2015(2015-04-02) (aged 83) Coral Springs, Florida
Motto	Live in the spirit

Styles of William Benedict Friend
Reference style	His Excellency
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Monsignor

William Benedict Friend (October 22, 1931 – April 2, 2015) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the new Diocese of Shreveport in Louisiana from 1986 to 2006. He previously served as auxiliary bishop and then bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport from 1979 to 1986.

Biography

Early life

William Friend was born on October 22, 1931, in Miami, Florida. He was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal James Gibbons on May 7, 1959, for the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham, Alabama.

Auxiliary Bishop and Bishop of Alexandria-Shreveport

On August 31, 1979, Pope John Paul II appointed Friend as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria-Shreveport and titular bishop of Pomaria. He was consecrated by Archbishop Thomas Joseph Toolen on October 30, 1979. On November 17, 1982, John Paul II appointed him as bishop of the same diocese.

Bishop of Shreveport

John Paul II erected the Diocese of Shreveport on June 16, 1986, and appointed Friend as its first bishop. He 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.

Retirement and legacy

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, William Friend died at his home in Coral Springs, Florida.