- Date Of Birth: December 26, 1942
- Date Of Death: December 6, 2019
- State: New Mexico
William E. Finley was born Thursday, December 26, 1942, and died on Friday, December 6, 2019, from complications of severe rheumatoid arthritis. William was the second son of Hubert L. Finley and Adelaide E. Finley (nee Cauby) of Pettis County, Missouri. William lived on the family farm near Sedalia, Missouri, while growing up. He attended Smithton High School followed by further education at the University of Missouri-Rolla and Central Missouri University where he was awarded a bachelor’s degree in chemistry in 1965. He served in the U.S. Air Force for more than 21 years, retiring from active duty as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1988. During his military service, he received additional education in meteorology at the University of Michigan in 1967 and was awarded a master’s degree in meteorology from St. Louis University in 1977. Following active duty retirement from the U.S. Air Force Weapons Laboratory in Albuquerque, NM, he conducted and supported research, development, test, and evaluation activities with a range of aerospace firms supporting flight test, systems developments, and other advisory activities. He founded and operated a small precision machine shop in Albuquerque from 1991 until 2001.
