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April 8, 2021Father Wilmer “Bill” Rath’s story is one of great tragedy at a life cut short in the prime of young adulthood.
Bill Rath was born in Saint Louis, Mo., on Aug. 25, 1933. His mother died when he was young, and upon remarriage his father settled the family in New York. They moved to Tulsa in 1947 where he attended Marquette High School and graduated in 1951. Accepted as a seminarian for the Diocese of Oklahoma City and Tulsa, he attended Saint John Seminary in Little Rock and, completing his studies, was ordained in 1959.
Comments about the young priest give an insight into his character. His parish priest remarked: “He is serious minded yet has a good sense of humor. His actions as a seminarian have been above reproach, and his willingness to aid in the work of the Church has been most noteworthy.”
Another priest stated: “He is an example to the laity and other seminarians and a true Christian gentleman. He has a great deal of maturity and projects a prudential judgement.” Regardless of the evaluator, it was consistently mentioned that he was well-liked by both the clergy and laity. Athletic, energetic and charming, he began his priestly ministry.
His first assignment was assistant pastor at Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Norman, followed by assistant counselor at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School; and his final assignment as assistant chaplain at the Oklahoma State University Catholic Student Center in Stillwater. He enjoyed his ministry to young people, and they enjoyed him. His remarkably quick perceptions and detachment from worldly possessions made him a favorite of the students he served.
The social teachings of the Church were at his core as he is seen in the above photo marching at Selma in 1965. The plight of the migrant farm worker was at the forefront of his activism as well.
In the summer of 1966, Father Rath along with two other Oklahoma priests, Father McGlinchey and Father Lange, accompanied him to the University of San Francisco for a month-long study program. Upon completion, the three clerics visited the beach at Land’s End before returning to Oklahoma.
Restless and in need of exercise, Father Rath informed his friends that he was going for a walk. He disappeared from their sight behind a rock formation and decided to climb up the face of the cliff. A man on the beach saw him and yelled not to attempt it as it was too dangerous. Tourists in the area frequently fell from this spot and natives knew to avoid it. The roar of the surf muffled his warning and the priest kept climbing.
Losing his footing on some loose rock, he tumbled to his death some 40 feet below. After an hour, the two priests decided to look for him and were met by a man who told them of the accident. The U.S. Coast Guard had to lower men to retrieve the body, and it is said that the experience left Father Lange greatly shaken and emotionally scarred.
At his funeral, Bishop Victor Reed tried make sense of this loss with these words: “It is faith not reason that must come to our assistance. Only faith can appreciate in some way the designs of God. Reason alone can perceive no logic in it … In Father Rath’s faith, generosity of heart and dedication of life, we have great cause for confidence in the love of our Risen Lord.”
