John Morton-Finney was a Buffalo Soldier who served in World War I, earned 11 college degrees, and worked as a lawyer until the age of 106. He was believed to be the longest-practicing attorney in the United States.
John Morton-Finney (June 25, 1889 – January 28, 1998) was an American civil rights leader, lawyer, and teacher. He earned 11 degrees in total, including 5 in law.
After serving in the U.S. Army from 1911 to 1914 with the 24th Infantry Regiment—known as the Buffalo Soldiers—and later in France during World War I, he focused on teaching and practicing law.
He taught languages at Fisk University in Tennessee and at Lincoln University in Missouri before moving to Indianapolis, Indiana. There, he taught in public schools for 47 years.
He was one of the first teachers at Crispus Attucks High School when it opened in 1927 and later became the head of its foreign language department. He also taught at Shortridge High School and other schools in the city.
He was accepted to the Indiana Supreme Court Bar in 1935, to the U.S. District Court Bar in 1941, and in 1972, he was allowed to practice law before the U.S. Supreme Court.
