Thomas Joseph Drury DD LHD (January 4, 1908 – July 22, 1992) was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo in Texas from 1962 to 1965 and as the fourth bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi in Texas from 1965 to 1983.

Biography

Early life

Thomas Drury was born on January 4, 1908, in Ballymote, Ireland. He was ordained a priest by Archbishop Robert Lucey for the Diocese of Amarillo on June 2, 1935, after immigrating to the United States.

Bishop of San Angelo

Drury was appointed bishop of the Diocese of San Angelo on October 30, 1961, by Pope John XXIII. He was consecrated by Archbishop Lucey on January 24, 1962.

Bishop of Corpus Christi

On July 19, 1965, Drury was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi by Pope Paul VI. He served as the bishop during the Second Vatican Council. Drury expanded diocesan activities from two to thirty-two departments, including Catholic Charities, the Office of Catholic Schools, the Catholic Youth Organization, and the Department of Hispanic Affairs. Drury created a Diocesan Pastoral Council to advise him on current issues in the diocese. He also established a weekly newspaper, Texas Gulf Coast Register, in 1966; it was later known as Texas Gulf Coast Catholic. Today the newspaper is the official diocese newspaper called South Texas Catholic. Pope Paul II accepted Drury's resignation as bishop of Corpus Christi on May 19, 1983. Thomas Drury died on July 22, 1992, at age 84.

Episcopal succession