July 13, 1886: Edward Joseph Flanagan born in Ireland.
Late summer 1904: Sails with brother P.A. Flanagan to America.
October 1907: Enters Gregorian University in Rome under the auspices of the bishop of Omaha.
July 26, 1912: Is ordained a priest in Innsbruck, Austria.
1912-17: Serves in several Nebraska parishes in O'Neill and Omaha.
January 1916: Opens Workingmen's Hotel in downtown Omaha to serve homeless and jobless men.
Dec. 12, 1917: Rents a home at 25th and Dodge Streets and officially opens Father Flanagan's Boys' Home to five young boys assigned to him by the court.
June 1, 1918: Moves to a larger home on South 13th Street, the former German-American Home.
March 29, 1921: Sends his first letter appealing for funds to support the home to Catholic residents of eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.
May 18, 1921: Purchases Overlook Farm, then 10 miles west of Omaha. Move completed in October.
Feb. 14, 1926: Institutes first student government at the home. Boys elect first mayor and vote to officially change the name of Overlook Farm to Boys Town.
June 26, 1938: Welcomes the cast — including actor Mickey Rooney — and crew for the “Boys Town” movie to campus for 10 days of location shooting.
April 7, 1947: Tours Japan and Korea to investigate the need for aid to war orphans. In July, reports his findings to President Harry S. Truman at the White House.
May 15, 1948: Suffers a fatal heart attack in Berlin, Germany. Six days later, his body is entombed at Boys Town.
Source: Boys Town
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