Background
Friend, William Benedict was born on October 22, 1931 in Miami, Florida, United States. Son of William Eugene and Elizabeth (Paulus) Friend.
Friend, William Benedict was born on October 22, 1931 in Miami, Florida, United States. Son of William Eugene and Elizabeth (Paulus) Friend.
Student, University Miami, 1949—1952. Certified in philosophy, St. Mary's College, St. Mary, Kentucky, 1955. Certified of ordination, Mount St. Mary's Seminary, Emmittsburg, Maryland, 1959.
Master of Arts in Education, Catholic University America, 1965. Doctor of Laws, St. Leo College, 1986.
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.
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.
Board directors, vice president Southeast Regional Hispanic Center, Miami, 1986—2008. Trustee Notre Dame Seminary, 1976—2006, St. Joseph College Seminary, New Orleans, 1979—2006. Board councillors Community Renewal International.
Chairman board Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, 1997—2004. Member advisory board The John Jay Reilly Center for Science, Technology and Values University Notre Dame, 2000—2004. Board directors Louisiana Interchurch Conference, Louisiana Catholic Conference, 1979—2006.
Member of World Futures Society, New York Academy of Sciences, Catholic Academy of Sciences United States of America, Knights of Columbus (former state chaplain Louisiana council).