513:. He also served as an IPS school principal. In addition, Morton-Finney taught life skills, invited presidents from black colleges to speak to the students, and helped students with college scholarships. In honor of his nearly five decades of service in the Indianapolis Public Schools, the school district's downtown Center for Education Services building was renamed the Dr. John Morton-Finney Center for Educational Services.
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If the dates in this report are accurate, Morton-Finney, who earned his first law degree in 1935 and practiced law until 1996 (a period of 61 years), was 107 years of old when he retired from practicing law. Limbaugh was 105 years old when he died in 1996, but the reports states he practiced law for
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and was inducted into the
National Bar Association Hall of Fame (1991). In recognition of his years as a legal professional the Indianapolis Bar Association presents awards to local lawyers for their leadership in legal education in Morton-Finney's honor. Butler University presents an award in
205:
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
361:, where he resumed his education and met his wife, Pauline, who was also an educator at the college. 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.
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IPS administrators planned to sell the
Central Services building at 120 E. Walnut Street in downtown Indianapolis, but the real estate developer's bids submitted in November 2018 to purchase the property and demolish it to build housing on the site were rejected. See:
309:. Morton-Finney was promoted to the ranks of corporal and sergeant, but was denied an officer's commission due to racial discrimination. He received an honorable discharge and returned to the United States in 1914. Morton-Finney also served as an infantryman in the
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Morton-Finney was recognized during his lifetime for his public service contributions with honorary awards and certificates from Chief
Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court (June 9, 1989), the Indianapolis Public Schools (May 22, 1990),
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246:, 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
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265:. After his return to the United States in 1914, Morton-Finney resumed his studies at Lincoln College, where he met and married Pauline Angeline Ray (November 19, 1889 – September 3, 1975) of
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In addition to his long career as an educator in the
Indianapolis public schools, Morton-Finney practiced law in Indiana for many years. He was admitted as a member of the Bar of the
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Hall of Fame in 1991. When Morton-Finney retired from practicing law at the age of 107, he was believed to have been the oldest practicing attorney in the United States.
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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
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At least one report inaccurately claims that "Morton-Finney was believed to have been the longest practicing attorney in the United States, taking the record from
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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
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in 1935 and as a member of the Bar of the U.S. District Court in 1941. At the age of 83, Morton-Finney was admitted to practice before the
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The
Indianapolis Bar Association established the Dr. John Morton-Finney Jr. Award for Excellence in Legal Education in his honor (1998).
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to students who have taken a leadership role promoting diversity and inclusion in their schools or communities is named in his honor.
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Morton-Finney's honor to students who demonstrate leadership in promoting "diversity and inclusion in their schools or communities."
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Born Morton Finney on June 25, 1889, to a former slave father and a free mother, George and
Maryatta "Mattie" (Gordon) Finney, in
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https://web.archive.org/web/20030405193808/http://www.indystar.com/library/factfiles/history/black_history/black_hoosiers.html
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Hall of Fame (1991). In addition, the
Indianapolis Bar Association and Butler University present awards named in his honor.
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Recipient of the
Distinguished Graduate, School of Education, Award from the Indiana University Alumni Association (1983)
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when it opened in 1927. (Attucks High School was the only public high school in Indianapolis designated specifically for
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in 1935, as a member of the Bar of the U.S. District Court in 1941, and was admitted to practice before the
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Morton-Finney died on January 28, 1998, at the age of 108. He was buried with full military honors at
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when it opened in 1927 and later became head of its foreign language department. He also taught at
931:"John Morton-Finney, the Buffalo soldier who earned 11 degrees and practised law until he was 106"
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477:. Morton-Finney spent forty-seven years as an IPS teacher and school administrator, beginning at
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Recipient of Indiana University's College of Arts and Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award (1983)
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in Indianapolis, Indiana. At the time of his death, Morton-Finney was Indiana's oldest veteran.
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in Indianapolis. Morton-Finney also held undergraduate degrees from Lincoln Institute (1920),
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Morton-Finney had a lifelong interest in education, earning eleven academic degrees in law,
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for forty-seven years. Morton-Finney was a member of the original faculty at Indianapolis's
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High Five: African-American Institutions That Have Strengthened the Indianapolis Community
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Named an honorary member of the U.S. 9th and 10th (Horse) Cavalry Association (1995)
564:(Litt.D.) from Lincoln University in 1985. He was also the recipient of an honorary
325:, he was cited for directing the rationing tickets program for African Americans in
1095:"John Morton-Finney Earned 11 Degrees and Practiced Law Until He was 106 Years Old"
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and at other IPS schools. Morton-Finney was admitted as a member of the Bar of the
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489:.) Morton-Finney became head of Attucks's foreign language department, taught
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608:. Morton-Finney also received distinguished alumni and graduate awards from
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1200:"Morton-Finney Leadership Program: Dr. John Morton-Finney Leadership Award"
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Crowned Adeniran I, Paramount Chief of Yoruba Descendants in Indiana (1979)
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To honor his lifelong commitment to education and his 47 years with the
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Morton-Finney earned a total of five law degrees, the first one from
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on August 31, 1979. Morton-Finney's family ancestors migrated from
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863:(6). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office: H304–H305
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226:. He also received distinguished alumni and graduate awards from
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758:"RetroIndy: John Morton-Finney never lost his love for learning"
853:"Tribute to Dr. John Morton-Finney, from Indianapolis, Indiana"
481:. He was one of the original faculty members hired for the new
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Inducted into the National Bar Association Hall of Fame (1991)
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in 1935, followed by law degrees from Indiana Law School and
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and a French teacher at Lincoln College. The couple moved to
1014:
1017:"'Thirst For Justice': Indiana's Pioneering Black Lawyers"
301:(a regiment of African American soldiers, better known as
898:. University Press of Kentucky. 2015. pp. 371–72.
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Dr. John Morton-Finney Center for Educational Services
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in 1995. In addition, he earned master's degrees from
1067:"Two Developers Bid on IPS Central Services Building"
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Collection, Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis
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made a tribute to Morton-Finney on the floor of the
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122:(June 25, 1889 – January 28, 1998) was an American
1091:(1891–1996) who practiced law for 75 years." See:
1015:Ryan Schwier and Ravay Smith (February 23, 2015).
973:. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. pp.
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384:(1925) and in French (1933), while at teaching at
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1042:. Indianapolis, Indiana: IBJ Media. p. 15.
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560:At the age of 96, Morton-Finney was awarded a
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645:, was the keynote speaker for the dedication.
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210:in 1989, in addition to being commissioned a
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661:Recipient of a Kentucky Colonel Award (1991)
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667:Recipient of a Sagamore of the Wabash Award
79:Educator, lawyer, and civil rights activist
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896:The Kentucky African American Encyclopedia
63:Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis, Indiana
1175:. The Indiana Lawyer.com. August 22, 2018
1121:The Associated Press (January 29, 1998).
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372:in 1944, IU's School of Law in 1946, and
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929:Europa Taylor, Mildred (20 April 2018).
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710:Dr. John Morton-Finney Leadership Award
257:in 1911, Morton-Finney was enrolled at
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702:campus was named in his honor in 2014.
396:(1965). Late in life he was awarded a
1363:20th-century African-American lawyers
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543:The Children's Museum of Indianapolis
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412:(1989). Morton-Finney was fluent in
349:. After his military service in the
158:. Morton-Finney taught languages at
1173:"IndyBar: Help Us Honor Excellence"
1065:Carter Barrett (January 29, 2019).
756:Mitchell, Dawn (23 February 2017).
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284:
13:
810:"Buffalo Soldiers Research Museum"
557:, and became enslaved in America.
529:in 1972. He was inducted into the
449:Morton-Finney taught languages at
208:Chief Justice of the United States
14:
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1303:American people of Yoruba descent
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851:Julia Carson (February 4, 1998).
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404:(1985), and received an honorary
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969:More Amazing Tales from Indiana
253:Prior to his enlistment in the
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1353:Burials at Crown Hill Cemetery
1093:Jae Jones (February 6, 2019).
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637:, who was the Chairman of the
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1308:20th-century American lawyers
1283:American civil rights lawyers
1263:African-American centenarians
1148:"Honoree: John Morton-Finney"
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690:U.S. House of Representatives
148:American Expeditionary Forces
1328:Iowa State University alumni
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311:American Expeditionary Force
16:American activist and lawyer
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698:A residential house on the
627:Indianapolis Public Schools
572:in 1989 at the age of 100.
483:Crispus Attucks High School
475:Indianapolis Public Schools
386:Crispus Attucks High School
299:24th U.S. Infantry Regiment
218:and named a recipient of a
188:Crispus Attucks High School
184:Indianapolis Public Schools
10:
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473:, in 1922 to teach in the
445:Educator and administrator
289:Morton-Finney enrolled at
230:and was inducted into the
1323:Indiana University alumni
1268:American men centenarians
965:Fred D. Cavinder (2003).
672:honorary doctorate degree
639:Buffalo Soldiers Monument
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182:, where he taught in the
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1333:Butler University alumni
1298:People from Indianapolis
1123:"Obituaries in the News"
566:Doctor of Humane Letters
531:National Bar Association
463:Jefferson City, Missouri
406:Doctor of Humane Letters
353:in 1914, he returned to
269:. Ray was a graduate of
263:Jefferson City, Missouri
232:National Bar Association
1338:Fisk University faculty
1243:"Dr. John Morton-Finney
1038:Stanley Warren (2013).
1019:. Indiana Legal Archive
684:In 1998, Congresswoman
549:to what is present-day
42:Uniontown, Kentucky, US
1125:. The Associated Press
963:"The African King" in
602:Sagamore of the Wabash
479:Shortridge High School
220:Sagamore of the Wabash
192:Shortridge High School
142:, better known as the
140:24th Infantry Regiment
1247:Indianapolis Recorder
892:"Morton-Finney, John"
762:The Indianapolis Star
523:Indiana Supreme Court
390:Iowa State University
238:Early life and family
196:Indiana Supreme Court
1293:People from Kentucky
1150:. Indiana University
857:Congressional Record
643:Fort Leavenworth, KS
598:Governor of Kentucky
568:degree (L.H.D) from
455:Nashville, Tennessee
428:, and conversant in
408:degree (L.H.D) from
305:) and served in the
216:Governor of Kentucky
89:Pauline Angeline Ray
1202:. Butler University
996:John Morton-Finney.
606:Governor of Indiana
582:Crown Hill Cemetery
465:, before moving to
244:Uniontown, Kentucky
224:Governor of Indiana
174:, before moving to
138:as a member of the
1288:American educators
1224:John Morton-Finney
610:Indiana University
590:Harvard University
527:U.S. Supreme Court
459:Lincoln University
402:Lincoln University
378:Indiana University
370:Indiana University
271:Cornell University
228:Indiana University
200:U.S. Supreme Court
168:Lincoln University
120:John Morton-Finney
23:John Morton-Finney
1089:Rush Limbaugh Sr.
706:Butler University
676:Martin University
656:George H. W. Bush
617:Awards and honors
570:Butler University
562:Doctor of Letters
487:African Americans
410:Butler University
398:Doctor of Letters
394:Butler University
374:Martin University
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594:Kentucky Colonel
576:Death and legacy
303:Buffalo soldiers
285:Military service
267:Geneva, New York
214:(1991) from the
212:Kentucky Colonel
144:Buffalo soldiers
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400:(Litt.D.) from
366:Lincoln College
355:Lincoln College
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291:Lincoln College
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222:award from the
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39:June 25, 1889
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1228:Find a Grave
1204:. Retrieved
1177:. Retrieved
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1127:. Retrieved
1099:. Retrieved
1097:. Black Then
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1071:. Retrieved
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765:. Retrieved
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686:Julia Carson
633:. Commander
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559:
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363:
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124:civil rights
119:
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1278:1998 deaths
1273:1889 births
940:16 February
815:19 February
767:16 February
537:Later years
507:mathematics
351:Philippines
343:mathematics
319:World War I
313:in 1918 in
307:Philippines
156:World War I
68:Nationality
1257:Categories
1023:January 3,
717:References
434:Portuguese
126:activist,
35:1889-06-25
1206:April 11,
1179:March 21,
1154:April 11,
1129:April 11,
1108:75 years.
1101:April 10,
1073:April 10,
911:April 11,
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457:, and at
382:education
333:Education
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255:U.S. Army
202:in 1972.
164:Tennessee
136:U.S. Army
990:April 9,
658:in 1990.
547:Ethiopia
359:Missouri
295:Missouri
248:Missouri
172:Missouri
132:educator
110:Children
71:American
555:Nigeria
551:Badagry
503:Spanish
471:Indiana
426:Spanish
347:history
317:during
279:Indiana
180:Indiana
166:and at
154:during
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517:Lawyer
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152:France
130:, and
128:lawyer
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700:IUPUI
674:from
495:Latin
491:Greek
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