Dr. William Finlayson Street honors Milwaukee doctor, city icon

Milwaukee leaders gathered to rename North 5th Street as Dr. William Finlayson Street on Tuesday, August 8, 2023.

While streets are often renamed, the Bronzeville District name change highlighted an important player in the city’s African American history.

“Dr. Finlayson is among that group that we call the greatest in their generation,” said former Milwaukee Acting Mayor Marvin Pratt.

At 98 years old, Dr. Finalyson has lived a life dedicated to serving others. As a physician, he welcomed roughly 10,000 children into the world – but it marks only a sliver of his work.

“Finlayson has been a drum major for justice,” said Albert Smith of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Dr. Finlayson was the first black doctor at practice St. Joseph’s and Sinai hospitals. He also opened Milwaukee’s first black-owned bank, North Milwaukee State Bank.

“I regularly would visit with Dr. Finlayson,” Smith said, “just being there in his house, seeing the pictures of him and MLK on the wall.”

Like his friend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Finlayson was devoted to making a difference.

“Dr. Finlayson, you have given the city of Milwaukee a lot. We owe you a lot,” Pratt said.

Now, Dr. Finlayson’s name will be seen and remembered for years to come.

“It feels like an honor, to be honored by so many people,” said Finlayson.