Thomas William Drumm

Thomas Drumm was born on July 12, 1871, in Fore, County Westmeath in Ireland to Thomas and Mary (née Cullen) Drumm.^[1] He came to the United States in 1888, and began his studies at St. Joseph's College in Dubuque, Iowa.^[1] Drumm then entered the Grand Seminary of Montreal in Montreal, Quebec.

Drumm was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Dubuque in Montreal by Archbishop Paul Bruchési on December 21, 1901.^[2] He then furthered his studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.^[1] After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Drumm to pastoral positions in several missions. He was named pastor of St. Patrick's Parish in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1915.^[1]

On March 28, 1919, Drumm was appointed the second bishop of Des Moines by Pope Benedict XV. He received his episcopal consecration at the Cathedral of Saint Raphael in Dubuque, Iowa, on May 21, 1919, from Archbishop John Joseph Keane, with Bishops James J. Davis and Edmond Heelan serving as co-consecrators.^[2] In 1924 he became the first Catholic bishop to preach regularly on the radio, offering monthly broadcasts on WHO-AM in Des Moines.

Drumm died in Des Moines on October 24, 1933 at age 62.^[2]