Person in history
William Wakefield Baum
William Wakefield Baum, American cardinal (born 1926)
Life at a glance
- Died
- 2015 · July 23
Their story
Who they were
Biography Early life and education William White was born in Dallas , Texas , on November 21, 1926, to Harold E. and Mary Leona (née Hayes) White. [ 1 ] His father, a Presbyterian , died when William was a young child, and he and his mother moved to Kansas City , Missouri . [ 2 ] Mary Leona then married Jerome Charles Baum, a Jewish businessman, who adopted William and gave him his last name; Jerome Baum died when William was 12. [ 3 ]
William Wakefield Baum was an American Catholic prelate who served as bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau in Missouri and archbishop of Washington in the District of Columbia. He then served in the Roman Curia as prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education and the major penitentiary.
Why this date
William Wakefield Baum appears on our July 23 calendar for 2015 as a death entry.
Sources
Cite this page
“William Wakefield Baum”, What's On This Date, https://whatsonthisdate.com/app/people/william-wakefield-baum, accessed October 24, 2026.
Cite the underlying source as well — the source links above go to the record this entry is adapted from.
Questions about William Wakefield Baum
When did William Wakefield Baum die?
July 23 2015.
Who else was born on this day?
The date page lists everyone we hold for that calendar day.
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