John J. Crowley
Father John J. Crowley | |
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| Born | December 8, 1891 Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland |
| Died | March 17, 1940 (aged 48) Kern County, California, U.S. |
| Education | College of the Holy Cross (BA) |
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Fr. John J. Crowley (December 8, 1891 - March 17, 1940), often referred to as the Desert Padre, was an early 20th century Catholic priest in California's large but sparsely populated Eastern Sierra and Death Valley. He served there from 1919 to 1924, and again from 1934 through 1940.
Crowley is remembered for his efforts to help improve the economic well-being of Eastern Sierra residents whose lives had been adversely affected by the diversion of water from the Owens Valley to the rapidly growing but water-deficient Los Angeles area (see: California water wars).