[2] In 1875 he proposed establishing four normal schools for African Americans and four for whites.
In 1866 he was marshal of the first Emancipation Day parade in Montgomery, Alabama.
[3] He was the first African American appointed to the Alabama State Board of Education.
[4] Finley proposed two bills to establish eight normal schools, four for the training of white teachers and four for the training of black teachers in Montgomery, Sparta, Marion, and Huntsville, with each institution overseen by a board of commissioners.
[5] An Alabama State University apartment building is named for him.