John Morton-Finney (June 25, 1889 – January 28, 1998) was an American civil rights activist, lawyer, and educator who earned eleven academic degrees, including five law degrees. He spent most of his career as an educator and lawyer after serving from 1911 to 1914 in the U.S. Army as a member of the 24th Infantry Regiment, better known as the Buffalo soldiers, and with the American Expeditionary Forces in France during World War I. Morton-Finney taught languages at Fisk University in Tennessee and at Lincoln University in Missouri, before moving to Indianapolis, Indiana, where he taught in the Indianapolis Public Schools for forty-seven years. Morton-Finney was a member of the original faculty at Indianapolis's Crispus Attucks High School when it opened in 1927 and later became head of its foreign language department. He also taught at Shortridge High School and at other IPS schools. Morton-Finney was admitted as a member of the Bar of the Indiana Supreme Court in 1935, as a member of the Bar of the U.S. District Court in 1941, and was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court in 1972.
When Morton-Finney retired from practicing law on June 25, 1996, his 107th birthday, he was believed to have been the oldest practicing attorney in the United States. At the time of his death in 1998 he was Indiana's oldest veteran. Morton-Finney was honored with numerous honorary awards and certificates, including one from the Chief Justice of the United States in 1989, in addition to being commissioned a Kentucky Colonel (1991) from the Governor of Kentucky and named a recipient of a Sagamore of the Wabash award from the Governor of Indiana. He also received distinguished alumni and graduate awards from Indiana University and was inducted into the National Bar Association Hall of Fame (1991). In addition, the Indianapolis Bar Association and Butler University present awards named in his honor.
Early life and family
Born Morton Finney on June 25, 1889, to a former slave father and a free mother, George and Maryatta "Mattie" (Gordon) Finney, in Uniontown, Kentucky, and was one of the family's seven children. After the death of his mother in 1903, when John was fourteen, his father was unable to care for the children and sent them to live with their grandfather on his farm in Missouri.
Military service
Morton-Finney enrolled at Lincoln College in Missouri, but his education was interrupted by military service. Morton-Finney also served as an infantryman in the American Expeditionary Force in 1918 in France during World War I. His education was disrupted again with military service in 1918, this time serving in France during World War I, but continued following his return to the United States.
Career
Educator and administrator
Morton-Finney taught languages at Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, and at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri, before moving to Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1922 to teach in the Indianapolis Public Schools. Morton-Finney became head of Attucks's foreign language department, taught Greek, Latin, German, Spanish, and French, and later taught at other IPS schools,
Lawyer
In addition to his long career as an educator in the Indianapolis public schools, Morton-Finney practiced law in Indiana for many years.
Later years
Due to his African family's ancestry, ninety-year-old Morton-Finney was crowned Adeniran I, Paramount Chief of Yoruba Descendants in Indiana during ceremonies held at The Children's Museum of Indianapolis on August 31, 1979. Morton-Finney's family ancestors migrated from Ethiopia to what is present-day Badagry, Nigeria, and became enslaved in America. He was buried with full military honors at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana. and was inducted into the National Bar Association Hall of Fame (1991). Butler University presents an award in Morton-Finney's honor to students who demonstrate leadership in promoting "diversity and inclusion in their schools or communities."