[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 93 (Tuesday, June 2, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E508]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                TRIBUTE TO DR. WILLIAM EDWARD FINLAYSON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 2, 2026

  Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart 
to mourn the recent passing of Dr. William Edward Finlayson, a 
dedicated medical advocate, devoted father, and truly revered figure in 
both our city and our Nation. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his 
loving family, dear friends, and the countless individuals whose lives 
were touched by his remarkable spirit.
  Dr. Finlayson's life was nothing short of historic. Born on September 
1, 1924, in Manatee, Florida, to parents Reverend James Anthony 
Franklin Finlayson and Alba Eugene Keys Finlayson, he began his 
extraordinary journey by attending a lecture by George Washington 
Carver in high school. Shortly thereafter he was admitted to Florida 
A&M University at just 16 years old. While there he met educator and 
civil rights icon Mary McCloud Bethune. At 18, he took the first step 
in a lifetime of service by joining the United States Army, where he 
served as a First Lieutenant from 1943 to 1946 and later continued his 
service in the Army Reserves. His military service reflected courage, 
leadership, and commitment to country that defined his life.
  By 1948, Dr. Finlayson earned a Bachelor of Science from Morehouse 
College before receiving his Doctor of Medicine from Meharry Medical 
College in 1953. During his time at Morehouse, not only met scholar 
W.E.B. Du Bois, but he also developed a friendship with his classmate 
and fraternity brother Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. That friendship 
later led Dr. King to visit Milwaukee in 1964 to help raise funds for 
integration, raising approximately $12,000 for the cause.
  After completing his residency at the University of Minnesota in 
1958, Dr. Finlayson established his own private medical practice in 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. This marked the beginning of a lasting legacy 
that strengthened and transformed our community for generations to 
come.
  In 1971, Dr. Finlayson founded Milwaukee's first Black-owned bank, 
North Milwaukee State Bank, in response to widespread lending 
discrimination within the city. The bank became a vital resource for 
Milwaukee residents and businesses, helping expand access to credit 
while promoting financial literacy, supporting personal and business 
growth, and increasing homeownership opportunities throughout the 
community. Dr. Finlayson served as chairman of the board for 26 years 
during the bank's more than four decades of operation.
  Dr. Finlayson's impact extended far beyond banking. He was the first 
Black obstetrician and gynecologist at both Mount Sinai Hospital and 
the former St. Joseph's Hospital, now known as Ascension Southeast 
Wisconsin Hospital--St. Joseph. Over the course of his four-decade 
medical career, he welcomed nearly 10,000 babies into the world.
  In addition to his medical practice, Dr. Finlayson held numerous 
leadership positions throughout Milwaukee's medical and civic 
communities. He served as president of the Cream City Medical Society 
and the Milwaukee Gynecological Society. He also served as vice 
president of United Community Services, now known as United Way of 
Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, and a delegate to the Wisconsin 
Medical Society. He also served on the board of directors of the 
Southeastern Wisconsin Health System Agency, as a member of the Urban 
League, and as a lifetime member of the NAACP. Through this remarkable 
leadership and mentorship, Dr. Finlayson helped shape the fabric of our 
city and inspired generations of medical professionals.
  I would also be remiss if I did not recognize the loving partnership 
between Dr. Finlayson and his late wife, Edith Finlayson. The two met 
while he was attending medical school and Edith was completing her 
training to become a nurse. Their marriage was rooted in a shared 
commitment to service, compassion, and community leadership. Edith 
herself was a respected advocate and leader in Milwaukee, and together 
they set an enduring example of love, faith, and service. The deep love 
Dr. Finlayson held for his wife and their three children was evident in 
all he did.
  Dr. Finlayson's life was a testament to the power of uplifting others 
through selfless service. In every chapter of his extraordinary 
journey, he showed us that true success is measured not by personal 
achievement, but by the lives we change along the way. His 
accomplishments broke barriers, strengthened communities, and opened 
doors for generations to come. Dr. Finlayson was not only a pioneering 
leader, but also a mentor and inspiration to so many, me included. As I 
reflect on the incredible life he lived and the enduring legacy he 
leaves behind, I am both humbled and profoundly grateful for his 
example of courage, compassion, and service.
  Mr. Speaker, it is for all these reasons that I am deeply honored to 
pay tribute to this American trailblazer, Dr. William Edward Finlayson. 
The people of the 4th Congressional District, the State of Wisconsin, 
and the entire United States stand in gratitude for a lifetime of 
courage and selfless service. His legacy will continue to inspire 
future generations, and his story will remain forever etched into the 
conscience of our Nation.

                          ____________________