“He was my mentor for my first three years at ‘The American’,” said Wiley Price, staff photographer for the St. Louis American, said when news broke of the passing of renowned photojournalist James Finley on Sunday at the age of 76.
Price got his start at the American were nearly forty years ago. He was in his early twenties and dove head first into the field. Finley was an established professional. Price was trying to find his way in the industry as the American was experiencing a downturn. Finley was generously accessible to Price – offering him invaluable knowledge and tools that he still uses to this very day.
Finley died after several weeks of hospice care from vascular disease, according to his former employer The Associated Press.
His death shook the news photography industry and the journalism field in general. Many called Finley a mentor –and many more called him friend.
“My first national photograph was published by James Finley,” said area photographer and longtime American contributor Maurice Meredith. “The photo was a fight between Will Clark, Oquendo and Ozzie Smith.”
A native of East St. Louis, Finley was an alumnus of Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, where he earned a bachelor’s and a master’s degree.
His photography career officially began when he returned to the region after serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. He studied under legendary local photographer Fred Waters while freelancing for the Associated Press and several local outlets – including the East St. Louis Monitor. He became staff photographer for the Associated Press in the early 1980s.
Finley held his position at the AP until 2006. He was inducted into the Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame in 2008.
In 2012, Finley looked on like a proud father as Price followed him into the Hall.
“It was a special moment for me,” Price said.
Funeral arrangements for James Finley are pending, but will be published as soon as they are made available.
He made St. Louis great