Dr. William Finlayson Leaves Lasting Legacy in Milwaukee After Decades of Service

Dr. William Edward Finlayson, beloved Milwaukee physician, civil rights advocate, and community leader, passed away on May 11, 2026, leaving behind a legacy that transformed generations of families across Milwaukee. He was 101 years old.

Born on September 1, 1924, in Manatee, Florida, Dr. Finlayson dedicated his life to medicine, service, and the advancement of African American communities. A graduate of Morehouse College and later medical school in Tennessee, he served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army before moving to Milwaukee in 1958 with his wife, Edith.

Known affectionately throughout the city as Milwaukee’s “baby doctor,” Dr. Finlayson spent nearly four decades as an obstetrician and gynecologist, delivering an estimated 10,000 babies and becoming one of the city’s first Black physicians with admitting privileges at major hospitals. His compassion and commitment to equitable healthcare touched countless families throughout Milwaukee and beyond.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Finlayson was deeply involved in civic and economic empowerment efforts. He helped found the North Milwaukee State Bank, the first African American-owned full-service bank in Wisconsin, creating greater access to financial opportunities for underserved communities. He was also active in the NAACP, the Milwaukee Urban League, and numerous community initiatives focused on education, civil rights, and neighborhood development.

As president of the Delta Chi Lambda alumni chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Dr. Finlayson played a key role in bringing his former classmate and friend, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., to Milwaukee during the Civil Rights Movement.

Throughout his lifetime, Dr. Finlayson received numerous honors recognizing both his medical excellence and community leadership, including Milwaukee’s 2019 Living Legend Award. A portion of North 5th Street was also named in his honor.

His impact on Milwaukee continues to be felt not only through the thousands of families he cared for, but through the institutions and community spaces connected to his legacy. Today, Courier Communications remains housed in Dr. Finlayson’s former office, a lasting reflection of his enduring presence within Milwaukee’s Black community and civic life.

Dr. Finlayson will be remembered not only for the lives he helped bring into the world, but for the barriers he broke, the institutions he helped build, and the generations he inspired through his generosity, leadership, and unwavering commitment to justice and community.