[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 120 (Tuesday, July 28, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF WAYNE TOWNSEND

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SUSAN W. BROOKS

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 28, 2015

  Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a beloved 
member of the Indiana community, Wayne Townsend. He was a well-known 
member of the Indiana legislature, an esteemed farmer, and a vigorous 
supporter of Purdue University. Sadly, Wayne passed away at the age of 
89 on July 3, 2015. He will be dearly missed by the Hoosier community, 
but we will remember him forever through the spectacular legacy he left 
behind.
  A lifelong Hoosier, Wayne was born on his family's farm in Grant 
County. He started school at Walnut Creek Elementary School and then 
went to Jefferson Township High School. While his parents did not 
attend college, they encouraged all six of their children to go to 
college. Wayne, like his older siblings, attended Purdue University and 
graduated with a bachelor's degree in Agriculture.
  Wayne's professional life reveals his different avenues of interest. 
A few years after graduating from Purdue, Wayne entered military 
service, serving primarily in Washington, D.C. as a special agent in 
the Counter Intelligence Corps. He stayed in the Army for two years 
until he returned to his family farm with his wife, Helen. Wayne 
maintained a hog and grain farm in Blackford County his whole adult 
life, but he was also heavily involved in Indiana politics. Wayne began 
his political career when he was elected to the Indiana House of 
Representatives in 1958. He served in the Indiana House of 
Representatives for six years, serving on the House Ways and Means 
Committee, and in 1970 he was elected to the Indiana Senate, where he 
served on the Senate Finance Committee. In the Senate, he is remembered 
for being the tie-breaking vote for Indiana to ratify the Equal Rights 
Amendment in 1977. Wayne was also selected as the Democratic nominee 
for Governor of Indiana in 1984, and he notably chose a female running 
mate, which was the first time in state history.
  After 16 years in the Indiana Senate, Wayne retired from the 
legislature and started a new adventure serving on the Board of 
Trustees for Purdue for 15 years. His commitment to the Boilermakers 
was evident through his extensive involvement with the university. He 
served as the Director of the Purdue Research Foundation and sat on the 
Search Committee tasked with finding a new president when President 
Steven Beering retired. He was a member of the John Purdue Club for 35 
years and a lifetime member of the Purdue Alumni Association. Wayne, an 
effective advocate for education, was also a Trustee of Earlham College 
in Richmond, Indiana.
  In addition to his commitment to education, he was an active Quaker 
and served as a member and Trustee of the First Friends Church of 
Marion for 50 years.
  On many occasions, Wayne was recognized for his impressive work. Four 
different governors from both sides of the aisle named Wayne the 
prestigious Sagamore of the Wabash. In 2014, he was honored with the 
Order of the Griffin, the highest honor bestowed by Purdue University. 
For his skill in farming, he was named a Master Farmer by Indiana 
Prairie Farmer and a Distinguished Purdue Agriculture Alumnus.
  Wayne is survived by his wife, Helen Townsend, children Jay Townsend, 
Mark Townsend, Lisa McHone, Steve Townsend, and Alan Townsend, eighteen 
grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Wayne was a leader in the 
community who will always be remembered for his dedication to Indiana 
and the enduring benefits he created. Please join me in thanking 
Wayne's family for sharing this truly remarkable man with the Hoosier 
community.

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