W. Patrick Donlin was a Judge of the Wisconsin Court of Appeals

Wisconsin Court of Appeals

The Wisconsin Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court in the state of Wisconsin, above the Wisconsin Circuit Courts but below the Wisconsin Supreme Court...

 and Supreme Advocate of the Knights of Columbus

Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus is the world's largest Catholic fraternal service organization. Founded in the United States in 1882, it is named in honor of Christopher Columbus....

.

Biography

A native of Madison, Wisconsin

Madison, Wisconsin

Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....

, Donlin graduated from Saint Mary's College

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private, comprehensive, coeducational university with an undergraduate campus in the city of Winona, Minnesota, United States...

 and the University of Wisconsin Law School

University of Wisconsin Law School

The University of Wisconsin Law School is the professional school for the study of law at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. The law school was founded in 1868.-Facilities:...

. In 1985, he was appointed a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great

Order of St. Gregory the Great

The Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great , was established on September 1, 1831, by Pope Gregory XVI, seven months after his election.It is one of the five orders of knighthood of the Holy See...

 by Pope John Paul II

Pope John Paul II

Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...

. Donlin passed away on February 3, 1996. He was married with four children.

Judicial career

After working in private practice and serving as District Attorney of Price County, Wisconsin

Price County, Wisconsin

Price County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 15,822. Its county seat is Phillips.-Geography:According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and is water...

, Donlin became a trial court judge. In 1978, he was elected to the Court of Appeals. He remained in that position until 1981.

Knights of Columbus

Donlin first became a member of the Knights of Columbus in 1965. He later became Grand Knight of his local council. Donlin was named Supreme Advocate in 1981 and took office at the organization's headquarters. He held the post until his death.