Bill Steltemeier

William "Deacon Bill" Steltemeier (born 1929 in Nashville, Tennessee; died February 15, 2013) was an attorney and co-founder of EWTN.

Steltemeier graduated from Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt Law School in Nashville, then served for two years in the Army before going into private practice. In 1960 he co-founded the law firm of Steltemeier & Westbrook.

Bishop Joseph Durick ordained Steltemeier as a permanent deacon for the Diocese of Nashville in 1975 and he was afterward appointed as Catholic chaplain to the Tennessee State Prison. He met Mother Angelica at a legal convention in Chicago, Illinois in March 1978 and subsequently made a large donation which helped her build a broadcast studio at the Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Irondale.

Steltemeier joined the founding board of EWTN, serving as the first president of the media company. He succeeded Mother Angelica as chairman and CEO at her retirement in 2000 and moved to Hanceville in 2002. He retired as CEO in 2009.

Steltemeier died in 2013 and was survived by his wife, Ramona. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Nashville.

References

• Garrison, Greg (February 15, 2013) "Mother Angelica's right-hand man at EWTN, 'Deacon Bill,' dies at 83." The Birmingham News