John O'Grady

John O'Grady (March 31, 1886 – January 2, 1966) was a sociologist, economist, social reformer. O’Grady served as executive secretary of the National Conference of Catholic Charities (now Catholic Charities USA) from 1920 to 1961. Life John O'Grady, the son of Francis O'Grady and Margaret (Hayes) O'Grady, was born on March 31, 1886, in Annagh Feakle, County Clare, Ireland. He was educated in Ireland and attended seminary at the All Hallows College in Dublin, where he was ordained on June 24, 1909. After ordination, O'Grady was assigned to serve in the diocese of Omaha, Nebraska. In 1912, O'Grady was sent to Catholic University of America to pursue a graduate degree. He completed a doctorate in sociology and economics in 1915, with a dissertation called "The Legal Minimum Wage." During his study, O'Grady also took summer courses at Johns Hopkins University and Chicago University. In Chicago, O'Grady became fascinated by Jane Addams and the settlement movement. He later wrote that “I came to regard Jane Adams [sic] as one of the great leaders of American life.” Work