Hugh L. Lamb

Hugh Louis Lamb (October 6, 1890 – December 8, 1959) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Greensburg, Pennsylvania from 1952 until his death in 1959.

Biography[]

Born in Modena, Pennsylvania, Hugh Lamb graduated from Coatesville High School in 1907 and then enrolled in St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook.^[1] He also studied in Rome at the Pontifical North American College and Pontifical Urbaniana University, from which he obtained a doctorate in sacred theology in 1915. While in Rome, he was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Basilio Pompili on May 29, 1915 at the Lateran Basilica.^[2]

His early assignments included parishes in Philadelphia and Coatesville and he served a professor at St. Charles Seminary through 1921.^[1] From then until 1923, he was secretary to Cardinal Dennis Dougherty and superintendent of archdiocesan schools until 1926. He was named a Domestic Prelate of His Holiness in 1927 and served as chancellor of the Archdiocese until 1936.^[1] He once described then-U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Josephus Daniels as "a consummate jackass" who "easily succumbed to the flattery of Plutarco Calles, the power in Mexico, who is known as the God-hater...[and] publicly expressed approval of the Socialistic and Communistic educational program."^[3] In 1929, he became a protonotary apostolic.

On December 15, 1935, Lamb was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia and Titular Bishop of Elo by Pope Pius XI.^[2] He received his episcopal consecration on March 19, 1936 from Cardinal Dougherty, with Bishops Gerald O'Hara and George L. Leech serving as co-consecrators.^[2][4] As an auxiliary bishop, he also served as vicar general of the Philadelphia Archdiocese until 1951.^[1]

On May 28, 1951, Pope Pius XII named him the first Bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Greensburg in Western Pennsylvania.^[2] However, due to the unexpected death of Cardinal Dougherty on May 31, Lamb remained in Philadelphia as apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese until John Francis O'Hara, C.S.C., was named as Dougherty's successor in November of that year.^[1] During his tenure, he brought a vision for schools, hospitals and institutions to care for the elderly. Under his direction, nearly $6.5 million was spent on construction or additions to existing facilities. Eight new schools, including Greensburg Central Catholic High School, were created and 10 new parishes were established.^[1]

Lamb was also instrumental in the founding of Jeannette District Memorial Hospital (now Westmoreland Hospital), donating over $300,000 for its construction and securing the Sisters of Charity of Seton Hill to staff it. He later died at the hospital after suffering a heart attack, aged 69.^[2]

References[]