John M. Agrey Award
2000 Recipient
John Finsness
John I. Finsness served North Dakota transportation through his expertise in common carrier freight rates and rail transportation issues, skills honed from his earliest days working at the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroad while studying law. A native of St. Paul, Minn., he graduated from the William Mitchell School of Law after military service.
In his near four decade career, Mr. Finsness was counsel for the transportation division of the Fargo Chamber of Commerce, railroad rate counsel for the North Dakota Wheat Commission, researcher with the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute on long-range transportation issues and with the North Dakota Public Service Commission as an expert on freight rates.
He also served as a special assistant attorney general for North Dakota in rate litigation before the Interstate Commerce Commission, the federal district courts and several federal circuit courts of appeals.
Mr. Finsness made an invaluable contribution to North Dakota's competitiveness through the regulatory process during his career as a transportation attorney.
He retired in 1983, enjoying Florida winters and other travel with his wife, Evelyn.
