Background
Finley, Howard James was born on December 6, 1901 in Hartford, Michigan, United States. Son of William S. and Clara May (Westcott) Finley.
conservationist museum official
Finley, Howard James was born on December 6, 1901 in Hartford, Michigan, United States. Son of William S. and Clara May (Westcott) Finley.
Student, Western State Teachers College, Michigan, 1928. Bachelor of Science in Agriculture, Michigan State College, 1931. Postgraduate, Cornell University.
Clerk Hartford Baking Company, 1920—1922. Farmer Dowagiac, Michigan, 1924—1927. Teacher Miles District, Hartford, 1925—1926, Daly District, Dowagiac, 1926—1927.
Teacher vocational agriculture Centreville, Michigan, 1928—1930, Bristol, Vermont, 1931—1933, Thetford, 1933—1934, Brushton, New York, 1934—1938, Weedsport, 1938—1966. Administrator vocational agriculture Board Co-operation Educational Services, 1964—1966. Director Cayuga County Soil & Water Conservation District, from 1967, chairman, from 1976.
Advisor Future Farmers American chapters, 1931—1966. Teacher trainer Cornell University, 1948—1950. Member Town of Brutus Planning Board, from 1967, Central New York Regional Planning & Development Board, 1974—1977, member water quality advisory committee, 1975—1977.
Originator Erie Canal Aqueduct Project, 1960, Old Brutus History Society, 1967. Director museum, Weedsport, 72. Leader 4-H Club, 1927—1962.
Co-organizer Weedsport Community Fair, 1949, president, 1950—1951. Chairman steering committee Heartland Resource Conservation & Development Project, New York, 1972, vice president project, 1974—1977.
Member Brutus-Weedsport Historian, from 1960. Member parish council St. Joseph's Church, 1980—1985. Member of National Association Conservation district (council 1975-1977), New York Soil Conservation district Association (director 1970-1979, state secretary 1971-1973, state president 1975-1977), Chamber of Commerce, Whittlers, Lions.
Married Helen L. Miller, July 20, 1929. Children: Marilyn Finley McArdle, John Westcott.