Evening star., 1948-05-15
Heart Attack Futul
To Nebraska Priest
In Army HospitoI
BY The Assoeiotsd Press

by the AssoSioted Press
BERLIN, May 16.-Msgr. Ed
ward J. Flanagan, known
throughout the world as the ia
then of Boys Town, died at an
Army hospital today after a
heart attack. He had been in
specting facilities in Germany
for the youths he loved so we'll
regardless of nationality.
The 61-year -old Nebraska priest
famed for his credo, There is no
such thing as a bad boy"-was
stricken last night. at Harnack
House, an American Military Gov
ernment residence for visiting OFF,
cials.
Oxygen Fails to Revive Him.
Taken to the 279th Station Mill
tary Hospital, he failed to respond
to oxygen and special heart injec-
tions. physicians said. He died at
2:05 am. (8:05 pm. EDIT yesterday.
Catholic Army Chaplain Emmitt
I. Walsh administered the last sac
raments. Father Walsh said the
priest died peacefully and in
prayer"
Father Flanagan, who has cham
pioned the cause of underprivileged
boys for more than three decades,
went to Vienna last March to study
Austrian youth conditions. During
his tour he was received in Rome
by Pope Plus XII.
Later he came to Germany at the
invitation of the United States
Army. In 1947 he made similar
mission to Japan. On that tour he
called on Emperor Hirohito. He
also conferred with Empress Nagako
on welfare work for Japan's chill
dren. Later he went to Korea at
the invitation of the United States
Army.
Funeral Services Monday.
Funeral services will be held here
Monday for Father Flanagan, with
Cardinal Count Konrad Won Prey
sing, Bishop of Berlin, officiating.
Three American Army chaplains will
assist at the altar. Rosary services
will be held tonight and tomorrow
night at Army chapels.
The body will be sent to the
United States by plane.
Gen. Lucius D. Clay, American
military governor, said today he was
shocked at Father Flanagan's death.
II had looked forward with en-
thusiasm to his helping us with our
German youth activities" Gen. Clay
said. Il am sad that did not have
the opportunity of meeting him."
Another tribute came from an in
ternational Catholic Action group
here which announced 1t was start
ing a Father Flanagan memorial
fund to support relief work in
Berlin.
Father Flanagan founded Boys
Town" in the Christmas season Of
1917 by borrowing $50 to rent
house in Omaha.
From that humble start he devel-
oped the present institution situat-
ed on a transcontinental highway
just west of Omaha, where hun
dreds of boys have been given an
opportunity to receive training
aimed at developing them into use
full citizens.
Boys Town was incorporated as
village in 1896. It consists Of a
16O-acre tract on which has been
erected dormitories, business Of
fees, grade and high school build
ing, farm buildings and a chapel.
1t Is a thriving little city.
Capacity Increased 500.
With a new building program
started in 1899, the capacity of, the
home was increased to 500 boys.
Financial support for the institu-
ton came mainly through Father
Flanagans efforts. Wide publicity
was given the home through mo-
ton picture titled Boys Town" ,"
which had as its theme the priests
career
Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney
were in the picture, which was a
tremendous success from the box
office standpoint. Strangely enough,
after it's production, contributions
to Boys Town fell off. Father Flan-
agan thought this was due to the
mistaken impression that the in
stitution had shared in the pro-
ceeds.
The priest preached continually
that the best way to curtail juven-
lie crime was to prevent boys from
being brought up in poverty and
crime breeding environment.
He appeared in many States to
claim boys accused of crimes rang
ing from petty thievery to murder
anxious to prove his contention that
given the proper environment no
boy would prefer life of crime.
Born in Ireland in 1886.
Father Flanagan was born in
Roscommon, Ireland, on July Is,
1886. His father was farmer, but
active in church work. He had II
brothers and sisters.
His elder brother, also a priest,
was instrumental to persuading him
to come to America.
Father Flanagan was educated in
public schools at Roscommon and
studied later at Summerhill College,
Sligo, Ireland. From there he went
to Mount St. Mary's College at En-
mitsburg, Md, graduating in 1906.
He went to st. Joseph's Seminary,
Dunwoodie, N Y, studied for
year, then to Rome for another year
of study.
While in Rome his health failed
and he returned to America. He
went to Omaha. where he lived for
two years, working when he was
able at a packing company plant.
He returned to his studies at Inns
bruck, Austria, and was ordained
there at the Jesuit University in 1912
Given Nebraska Parish.
After his ordination he returned
again to Omaha, and was assigned
to st. Patrick's parish at O'Neil,
Nebr On March Is. 1913, he was
transferred to Omaha as assistant
pastor at st. Patrick's parish, where
he remained three years.
It was in Omaha that he conceived