Chamber honors Finnie as 2002 Springfieldian

Springfield City Manager Tom Finnie was honored as the 2002 Springfieldian during the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting at University Plaza Convention Center Jan. 25. The Springfieldian award recognizes an individual for outstanding leadership, dedication and participation in community affairs over time. It has been presented every year since 1957; the 2001 honoree was John L. Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops. City manager about town from top left: Finnie accepts the 2001 Pinnacle Award from the Downtown Springfield Association for his advocacy of center city redevelopment. Finnie talks with then-mayor Lee Gannaway during a Jordan Valley Park update meeting at the Discovery Center, when the ice park was merely a rendering on a drawing board. Displaying the Finnie charm in a studio shot at top right, and at right, he converses with Councilman Ralph Manley during a DSA mixer at Nathan P. Murphy's.