Fulton J. Sheen
Bishop Fulton J. Sheen (May 8, 1895 - December 9, 1979) became television's first preacher of note on the airways in the late 1940s on the DuMont Television Network. DuMont was searching for programming ideas and put on a religious show with a Protestant minister, a Jewish rabbi and a Catholic priest. The priest became an overnight hit and DuMont's only Emmy Award winner in its brief broadcasting life. The show was called Life is Worth Living and was highly regarded by the public. DuMont put the show up against Milton Berle and apparently drew better ratings than the comedian even among Jewish viewers.
Though he was known as Fulton (his mother's maiden name), he was baptized Peter John Sheen. He was educated at Catholic University of America in Washington DC and returned there to teach philosophy after his ordination. He later became national director of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith. He was Auxiliary Bishop of New York from 1951 to 1965 and Bishop of Rochester from 1966 to 1969. Prior to appearing on Life is Worth Living, he appeared on the radio program Catholic Hour from 1930 to 1952.