MILWAUKEE – County Executive David Crowley released the following statement in response to the news regarding the passing of Dr. William Finlayson.
“Milwaukee has lost a true trailblazer. For nearly forty years, Dr. William Finlayson dedicated his life to the women of this community, serving as the first Black OB-GYN at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Mount Sinai Hospital. His presence was a testament to the importance of representation in medicine, but his impact extended far beyond the hospital walls. As a civil rights leader, Dr. Finlayson helped shape the very fabric of Milwaukee. He founded the city’s first Black-owned bank, expanding equal access to financial services for all Milwaukeeans, and played a pivotal role in bringing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to Milwaukee to lead protests and marches for fair housing.
“Dr. Finlayson’s legacy is a powerful reminder that diverse voices in medicine and in leadership are essential to the overall health of our community. On behalf of Milwaukee County, I extend my deepest condolences to his family, his colleagues, and the thousands of lives he touched.”
