Col. Delbert Townsend in Vietnam. [Click to enlarge]

I'm sure that everyone, at one time or another has daydreamed about what it is that they would do if they were blessed with great riches. Some might aspire to a fine big house, where they could entertain their friends, even dignitaries, who would admire their fine new residence. Some might imagine a new luxury automobile that would be the envy of their neighborhood. Some would aspire to play the finest golf courses in the land, or travel to the exotic Capitals of the world. Not unworthy ambitions certainly, but out of the realm of possibility for most folks, because of lack of funds to do these things.

Col. Delbert Townsends Ret., originally from rural Danbury, Neb., is a fellow who could do all these things, if he chose to do so. Instead, the good Col., the congenial rich uncle that everyone wishes they had, finds his greatest joy in helping young people from Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas to achieve their dreams.

Delbert Townsend was born at Norcatur, Kansas in 1921, and attended school for his first 10 grades at Danbury, then graduated from high school at Oberlin in 1938. He spent a year after graduation at various jobs -- working on a farm, building the dam at Lake McConaughy, till rainy weather curtailed construction there. In August of 1939 his father suggested that he should go to college. He agreed and enrolled at Kansas State College, working toward a degree in Agricultural Economics, with the eventual goal of becoming a Veterinarian.

At K. State he worked early mornings at the school's dairy barn and late nights at his studies, but still found time to make the school's wrestling team and was a four year member of the ROTC program -- all in all, a generally happy time for Townsend.

After graduation, in December, '42, Townsend entered the U.S. Army, during World War II. He was commissioned a 2nd Lt. of Infantry, and joined the 194th Glider Infantry unit, qualifying at both glider and parachute training schools.

Lt. Townsend was sent to England in 1944 and entered mainland Europe with the 17th Airborne Division in January, '45, just in time to join in the Battle of the Bulge.

"There were inches of snow on the ground and by midnight four of the seven officers in our company were dead and the other three, including me (shrapnel) were wounded. After nearly two months in the hospital in England, I returned to my unit while the other two wounded officers returned to the states."

Townsend rejoined his unit in time to cross the Rhine River on a CG4A glider. He was with his company until VE Day (Victory in Europe), then transferred to the 82nd Airborne, which returned to the U.S. in January, 1946, to a big ticker tape parade through lower Manhattan in New York City.

Townsend had every intention of taking his Army discharge and returning to K.State for his Vet's degree, but quotas at the school were already filled, and by the time there was an opening at Vet School the Army had offered him a Permanent Commission, and he had decided to make the Army a career. He never looked back.

Over the next 30 years Townsend enjoyed a varied and fulfilling career in the military. He completed the Army's Advanced Infantry School, the General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He completed overseas assignments in Berlin, Korea, and Vietnam (2), and did tours at the University of Kansas (with the ROTC), the Pentagon, and the Army War College.

Along the way he had three important goals for his military life. 1. He wanted to retire as a full Colonel. 2. He wanted to attend the Army's War College, and 3. He wanted to learn to fly airplanes and helicopters at the Army's Flight School. At the time these goals were considered long shots, but he accomplished all three.

Col. Townsend retired from the Army in 1973. He chose to stay in the Washington, DC area, where a chance meeting with a World War I veteran of the 82nd Airborne led to a friendship and eventual partnership in a business involving a number of grocery and liquor stores in the Washington area. This business was sold in 1989.

Since Townsend's 2nd retirement, in 1989, he has remained active in a Washington civic organization, the South Potomac Citizens Association, promoting safety programs, a spring landscaping contest, and a Christmas decorating contest for residents.

Though Delbert Townsend's military and business accomplishments have been outstandingly successful, he considers his greatest accomplishment to be the scholarship programs that he has set up with the University of Nebraska and Kansas State U. This unique program had its birth when Col. Townsend attended his 50th high school reunion in Oberlin, in 1988. He noted that most givers of the scholarships broke up their gifts into small portions -- $250-$300, in order to benefit more students. Townsend thought it would more effective to give a full ride to a smaller number of students. His first effort at providing a scholarship proved to be less than satisfactory. His chosen student was ungrateful -- and unsuccessful in school. He withdrew his funds and "pouted for a year."

Townsend decided that the scholarships were too important to discontinue, and with the aid of local people -- banks in McCook and Oberlin, school officials in Oberlin and Red Willow County, he formed selection committees to select deserving students for the scholarships at Kansas State University and UNL, UNO, and UNK.

Results of the new Townsend Scholarship program have been impressive. The annual and renewal scholarships are substantial. In 2008 they amount to $3500 per year per student, plus a one-time allowance for a personal computer.

Col. Townsend has a strong moral code and an abhorrence of tobacco, drugs and alcohol, but has insisted that scholarship rules be simple and recipients will not be subject to a certain "Personal Code of Conduct." Instead, sound judgment, good common sense, parental guidance, and "Honor System" will prevail, in accordance with University rules.

Col. Townsend has taken a great deal of interest (and pleasure) in his scholarship program. He keeps in touch with "his boys and girls" and their families via e-mail and considers the recipients of his scholarships as part of his extended family. He takes pride in their accomplishments as much as any parent. He keeps a scrap book on each of his people (now numbering 37) and remembers birthdays with a card. He will give advice if he is asked, but doesn't intrude. As his recipients are now beginning to graduate from college and he has attended their commencement ceremonies as often as he can.

As Townsend beams with pride about his program, and is obviously having a lot of fun. He has even managed to reach another of his early goals, vicariously. One of his "people" has received her Dr. of Vet Medicine, and now practices in Atwood.

To date Townsend Scholarships for Nebraska and Kansas young people have totaled well over $1 million, and the program promises to continue into the future -- "The best money I ever spent," said Col. Townsend. He goes even a step further, "You know, they don't have pockets on caskets for stocks and bonds and cash. My ambition is to go to my grave with a bank balance of ZERO." Perhaps the good Col. will give his money away, but along the way he is garnering the deep respect and thanks from a growing number of young scholars who have been able to realize their dreams, thanks to this good and generous "Great Uncle."