title: William Henry Bullock
text: # William Henry Bullock
  
  William Henry Bullock (April 13, 1927 – April 3, 2011) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Madison in Wisconsin from 1993 to 2003.
  
  Bullock previously served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis in Minnesota from 1980 to 1987 and as bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines in Iowa from 1987 to 1993.
  
  ## Biography
  
  ### Early life and education
  
  William Bullock was born on April 13, 1927, in Maple Lake, Minnesota. He attended Saint Paul Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, in preparation for the priesthood.
  
  Bullock was ordained a priest by Archbishop John Murray on June 7, 1952, for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul. He taught religion for several years and served as headmaster at Saint Thomas Military Academy, an archdiocesan high school in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. He held a pastoral position at Saint John the Baptist Parish in Excelsior, Minnesota from 1971 to 1980.
  
  ### Auxiliary Bishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
  
  Bullock was appointed as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and titular bishop of Natchesium on June 3, 1980, by Pope John Paul II. He was consecrated in St. Paul, Minnesota, on August 12, 1980, by Archbishop John Roach.
  
  ### Bishop of Des Moines
  
  On February 10, 1987, Bullock was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines by John Paul II, succeeding Maurice John Dingman. He was installed on April 2, 1987.
  
  ### Bishop of Madison, Wisconsin
  
  On April 13, 1993, John Paul II appointed Bullock as the third bishop of the Diocese of Madison; he was installed on June 14, 1993. In 1995, Bullock made the controversial decision to close Holy Name Seminary, a private boys high school in Madison, Wisconsin.
  
  On May 23, 2003, John Paul II accepted Bullock's resignation as bishop of Madison. William Bullock died on April 3, 2011, of lung cancer in Madison.
  
  