Political Quotes

“a few days ago a good friend of mine, Syd Finley, died at the Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Illinois. But before his death, his life personified that of a premier activist. He made effective use of himself to bring about positive and progressive change. After graduating from high school and Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, he began work as a recreational therapist for the State. He served in the military and fought in the Korean War and was awarded the Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters, the Combat Medic Badge, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and the Merit Unit Citation. In 1961, he was appointed Midwest director of the NAACP and moved his family from Galesburg to what was then segregated Wheaton. Real estate brokers only took him to the parts of town where African American families lived, and African American children were not bused to school like white children, and businesses would not consider hiring blacks. Therefore, Syd started meeting with the school board and city council members. Mr. Finley's style of operating proved to be quite effective; and he not only brought about change in his neighborhood, but he also brought about change for thousands of others through his work at the NAACP.”