The Rev. Leon Finney Jr., a longtime South Side pastor and activist, who came to prominence in the 1960s by fighting slumlords and helping guard the Woodlawn neighborhood against University of Chicago expansion plans, died Friday at the University of Chicago Medical Center, a longtime friend said.
He was 82.
Founder of The Woodlawn Organization, Finney made his name opposing the encroachment of the University of Chicago on areas south of the Midway Plaisance.
U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush described Finney as an “organizer’s organizer” who was on the front line of change.
“Dr. Finney’s life and legacy have left his fingerprints on the throttle of change in our city, state, and nation,” the Democratic congressman said in a statement.
Rush, who was taught by Finney at McCormick Theological Seminary, credited Finney for training countless Black pastors after establishing an African American leadership program at the institution.
“He was an absolute friend and an inspiration,” he said. “I alone, with countless others, are in mourning due to his transition, but we all remain committed to furthering his life’s pursuit.”
When thousands of residents fled Woodlawn after fires ravaged the neighborhood in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Finney worked to develop a revitalization plan to help restore the community.
“I think his biggest contribution to the society was his skills as a community organizer,” Jim Montgomery, Finney’s cousin, said.
“He developed the template on how to organize a poor community.”
Rikki Jones, Cook County Democrat Women president and founder of Christ Apostolic Church, called Finney “a great community man” for the Woodlawn neighborhood.
“His death took me by surprise,” she said.
Jones explained that in recent weeks she was unable to reach him. “That was not in his character, to not get back with you. He never stayed out of the loop. He was always in the middle of everything.”
Jones recounted working with Finney and mentioned the late Mayor Harold Washington’s campaign, noting Finney’s love of politics.
She hopes someone will pick up where Finney left off, someone who cares and loves the community as sincerely as Finney, she said.
A native of Louise, Mississippi, Finney took pride in being a protege of both radical organizer Saul Alinsky and Bishop Arthur Brazier, pastor of the Apostolic Church of God, the founder of The Woodlawn Organization.
Finney led The Woodlawn Organization and its development arm, the Woodlawn Community Development Corp. The Woodlawn Organization became a national model as it built a network of social programs, but in the last decade came increasingly under scrutiny because of questions about the use of some of the millions of dollars of public funds the development group controlled. He was accused of misusing public housing funds, including using government money for private pursuits.
Finney earned three master’s degrees and two Ph.D.s, including a doctorate of theology from McCormick Theological Seminary.
After serving as a Marine in the 1960s, Finney worked as a commercial paper trader for the First National Bank of Chicago, then as executive director of The Woodlawn Organization, often known by the acronym TWO, by the late 1960s.
Finney went on to become the pastor of three churches, including the Christ Apostolic Church, which later took over and restored the Metropolitan Church in Bronzeville and became the Metropolitan Apostolic Community Church.
Finney had a long-standing career in Chicago politics.
He sat on the city planning commission for more than 30 years. He served as the chair of the Chicago State University Board of Trustees for years, and in the 1980s, he was a Chicago Housing Authority board member for five years.
“Leon is one of those leaders of the community who was busier than anyone I ever encountered,” Montgomery said.
“I, like everyone else, will absolutely miss him.”
Tribune reporter Javonte Anderson contributed.
