Francis Ridgley Cotton

One of three children, Francis Cotton was born in Bardstown, Kentucky to Charles and Mary (née Moore) Cotton.[1] After attending St. Meinrad Seminary in St. Meinrad, Indiana, he enrolled in St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland.[1] Cotton then went in 1919 to Washington D.C. to enter the Sulpician Seminary at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., finishing there in 1920.[1]

Cotton was ordained to the priesthood for the Order of Friars Preachers (Dominicans) by Archbishop John Timothy McNicholas on June 17, 1920.[2] After his ordination, Cotton completed his graduate studies at the Pontifical Athenaeum S. Apollinare in Rome.[1] Following his return to Kentucky, he served as a curate at St. Joseph Proto-Cathedral Parish in Bardstown, St. Cecilia Parish in Louisville, Kentucky, and at St. Francis de Sales Parish in Paducah, Kentucky (1922-1926).[1] Cotton was appointed assistant chancellor in 1926, then chancellor in 1931.[1][3]

On December 16, 1937, Cotton was appointed the first bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Owensboro by Pope Pius XI.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on February 24, 1938, from Archbishop John A. Floersh, with Bishops Theodore H. Reverman and Moses E. Kiley serving as co-consecrators.[2][3] After his consecration, Cotton embarked on visits to the parishes in the new diocese. He brought the Catholic Students' Mission Crusade, a national organization for helping the poor, to the diocese.[4]

In early 1940, Cotton began the collection of relief supplies for refugees from World War II in Europe. By 1942, the diocese had collected over $1 million in supplies for distribution in Europe and China.[4] In February 1943, Cotton held a synod in the diocese to set its laws and constitution. Contemporary reports said that Cotton strictly enforced these rules in the diocese, but personally was a kind individual.[4]

Francis Cotton died of a heart attack in Owensboro on September 25, 1965, at age 65.[2][3]