James Brierton Townsend

Colonel James Brierton Townsend, Jr., 90, of Manhattan, passed away Saturday, May 17th, at the Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community. James was born in Chadron, Nebraska on November 15, 1923, to the late Ottillia Alise (Brennecke) and James Brierton Townsend, Sr.. He was married to Betty Carol Findlay who precedes him in death on Sept. 23, 2005. Col Townsend attended the University of Nebraska before entering the Aviation Cadet program and received an appointment to West Point Military Academy, where he graduated, after 3 years in an accelerated program, in 1945. He earned his Master's and Doctoriate Degrees from George Washington University. Col Townsend served in the U.S. Army Air Force as a Colonel in WW II. He was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the DFC Medal. He later became the Acting Director of Military Training at Lowry Air Force Base in 1954 and was also one of the founding fathers of the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. In 1958, he attended the Joint Services Staff College in England, later he taught at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, retiring from the U.S. Air Force at the rank of colonel in 1974. In 1977 he took a position in the College of Business Administration at Kansas State University, and later became the Department Head retiring in 1997. Visitation will be from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, Tuesday, May 27, 2014 and Wednesday from 8:00 am till 1:00pm at the Irvin-Parkview Funeral Home, 1317 W. Poyntz Ave. A graveside service will be at the Air Force Academy Cemetery, Colorado Springs, Colorado on Thursday May, 29, 2014 at 1:00 pm. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to T. Russell Reitz Animal Shelter, 605 Levee Dr, Manhattan. Col James B. Townsend~ “A Founding Father of the Air Force Academy” HISTORY TIMELINE 1943Attended from University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE. 1945Graduated from an accelerated 3-year program at the US Military Academy, West Pointe, NY, finishing just before the end of World War II. 1945Trained as a B-24 aircraft commander during World War II. Was stationed in Germany & became an Intelligence Officer. 1946Was a camera man taking aerial photos; includes the 18x9 War Department Stratics Photo. 1950-1953Flew night combat missions in an A-26 during the Korean Conflict. 1954Arrived as a Major at the Air Force Academy, Lowry Air Force Base, Denver, CO. Was the 25th Officer at the Air Force Academy and became Acting Director of Military Training. Other staff at the Academy included; Superintendent, Lt Gen Hubert Harmon; Dean of Faculty, Brig Gen Don Zimmerman; Commandant of Cadets, Col Robert Stillman; Deputy Commandant of Cadets, Col Ben Cassiday; and Director of Athletics, Col Robert Whitlow. 1955Helped draft the first cadet regulations, the cadet selection system and the Academy Traditions including the Honor Code. Designed and conducted the training of Air Training Officers (surrogate upper classman for the first class of cadets). With Lt Arthur Holderness, designed the first 4-year Airmanship curriculum. 1956Became Group Air Officer Commanding. 1958Moved to England to attended Joint Services Command & Staff College, just as the Air Force Academy moved from Lowry to its permanent site in Colorado Springs, CO. 1958-1962Staff Officer with the Fourth Allied Tactical Air Force, Ramstein, Germany where he met the then Major Dwight D. Eisenhower. Spent time in Ireland, France, Italy & US. 1962-1964Served at McChord Air Field, Tacoma, WA. 1964-1965Taught at the Air War College, Montgomery, AL. 1965-1967Served on the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.. 1967-1968Served as a Civil Engineering Officer at McConnell Air Force Base, Wichita, KS. 1968-1970Taught at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Washington, D.C., where Eisenhower was an instructor. Presented the Pentagon Military Construction Plans at the Pentagon. 1970-1974Served as a Programmer for the Military Construction Budget, Pentagon, Washington, D.C., until he retired in 1974 with the rank of (Bird) Colonel. 1976Earned a doctorate in Business Administration at George Washington University. 1977-1997Hired as a Prof. of Strategic Management, College of Business Administration, Kansas State University “Dr. James Townsend, Professor Emeritus of Management, College of Business Administration (CBA), Kansas State University Dr. Townsend was a dedicated teacher. Although his courses were among the college’s most demanding, he was beloved by students. He became the college’s placement manager and provided career counseling to most management graduates. He was active in his discipline through the Academy of Management for which he gave frequent presentations around the world. He was also active in recruiting other outstanding faculty members and students to the college. Dr. Townsend retired in 1997 from Kansas State University but continued to be involved with the college. In recognition of his many contributions, he was provided an office in the college until 2010 when his health began to decline. As a teacher, Dr. Townsend was fair and caring, while holding his students to a high level of achievement. He was a remarkable educator and impacted thousands of students during his years in the CBA at K-State.” - College of Business Administration, Kansas State University PLANES FLOWN - Douglas A-26 Invader - N. American F-86 Sabre - Fairchild PT-19 - Consolidated B-24 Liberator - Mauboussin M-121 Corsaire - Northrop T-38 Talon - Martin B-51 bomber - Jurca MJ-1 glider - N. American T-6 Texan - Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star - N. American P-51 Mustang AWARDS - Silver Star, “Gallantry in Action Medal“ (3rd highest) - Distinguished Conduct Medal - Bronze Star, “Meritorious Service Medal” (4th highest)- numerous Air Medals.