John M. Andrist

John Andrist was born on August 1, 1931.[3] His father, Calvin L. Andrist, was the publisher of the Divide County Journal, now known as The Crosby Journal. From 1950 to 1957, he worked full-time for the journal, served as managing editor from 1958 to 1961, and as publisher from 1961 to 1991.[3] From 1970 to 1971, he was President of the North Dakota Press Association, and from 1989 to 1990, of the National Newspaper Association.[1][2][3] He is also a former President of the North Dakota Society of Professional Journalists.[1][2] In 2000, he was inducted in the North Dakota Newspaper Association Hall of Fame.[1][2] In 2002, he received the National Newspaper Association's Amos Award for distinguished service to the community press.[3]

He served in the North Dakota Senate from 1993 to 2014.[1][2] He sat on the Board of the Medora Foundation, which aims at improving Medora, North Dakota.[1][2] He was a Kiwanis member.[1][2] He was a recipient of the North Dakota National Leadership Award of Excellence.[1][2]

He was married to Elaine Andrist, and they had five children together before she died.[1] He lived in Crosby, North Dakota.[1][2] Andrist died in Fargo, North Dakota, on January 17, 2018, after suffering a stroke.[4]