Download a high-resolution photo of Finch.
William Carrington Finch, the dean of Vanderbilt Divinity School in the early 1960s and president of two other universities during his career, died June 13 in Nashville. He was 97.
Finch was hired to head Vanderbilt Divinity School in 1961, after the expulsion of student and civil rights movement leader James Lawson led to tumult within the school. Lawson was expelled because of his work to desegregate Nashville. He was eventually invited back but instead completed his studies at Boston University. Last year, he returned to Vanderbilt as a visiting Distinguished University Professor.
Mass resignations were threatened by faculty in the divinity school and other schools at Vanderbilt because of Lawson’s expulsion.
“It’s very hard for us today to appreciate the difficulty and tension the Lawson affair produced at Vanderbilt,” said Frank Gulley, professor of church history, emeritus, at Vanderbilt Divinity School.
“Bill Finch came at a time when it was crucial to win the support of the faculty and at the same time hold the support of the administration for the divinity school. He was able to do that in fundamental ways.”
Finch was born Dec. 21, 1909, in Chase City, Va. He was educated at Hampton-Sydney College, Union Theological Seminary and Drew University. He served as a chaplain in the Navy during World War II on the U.S.S. Bingham in the Pacific Theatre.
After being discharged from the military, he taught at Oklahoma City University and Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. He was president of Southwestern for 12 years before moving to Vanderbilt.
“Everybody admired Bill because he was such a nice man,” said Jack Forstman, dean of Vanderbilt Divinity School, emeritus. “I have a lot of respect for him.”
Gulley said that Finch’s “warmth and dignity” helped Vanderbilt Divinity School through a difficult time.
“He was very tall, an elegant human being,” Gulley said. “He very much looked the part, and was a superb administrator who inspired confidence.”
Finch left Vanderbilt after four years to become president of Emory & Henry College. When he retired in 1971, he moved back to Nashville. He was active in charitable activities, especially Habitat for Humanity and Heifer International. He was an avid birdwatcher and a member of the Tennessee Ornithological Society.
A memorial service was held June 16 at West End United Methodist Church. Survivors include wife Lucy Bedinger Finch, sons William Tyree Finch and Richard Carrington Finch and four grandchildren.
“His time as dean at Vanderbilt Divinity School was a strained time due to the circumstances, but he enjoyed many of the associations he had there,” said William Tyree Finch.
Media Contact: Jim Patterson, (615) 322-NEWS
jim.patterson@vanderbilt.edu