John Baptist Franz

John Baptist Franz (October 29, 1896 – July 3, 1992) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church.

[2] Franz became administrator of St. Mary's Parish and superintendent of St. Isidore High School, both in Farmersville, Illinois, in 1927.

[1] From 1935 to 1951, he served as rector of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield[1] He was named a papal chamberlain in December 1941, and raised to the rank of domestic prelate in April 1945.

[2] On May 27, 1951, Franz was appointed the first bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Dodge City by Pope Pius XII.

[3] He received his episcopal consecration on August 29, 1951, from Cardinal Samuel Stritch, with Bishops Mark Carroll and William O'Connor serving as co-consecrators.