Dr. Finlayson honored by Milwaukee Common Council with street renaming

On Tuesday, November 22, 2002, at City Hall, 200 East Wells Street, the Milwaukee Common Council voted to rename the road between West Capitol Drive and West Walnut Street — formerly North 5th Street to Dr. William Finlayson Street.

Dr. Finlayson, age 97, is a beloved obstetrician and gynecologist who practiced for nearly 40 years, delivering thousands of babies. Finlayson became the first black OB-GYN to work at St. Joseph and Mount Sinai Hospitals.

In addition to delivering thousands of infants, Finlayson was a champion for eliminating housing discrimination, opening this city’s first black-owned bank, North Milwaukee State Bank.

For this historic honor, Dr. Finlayson, was joined by his children, family and community leaders from all over the city.