David C. Townsend ’48

Economist and educator David C. Townsend ’48 died March 23, 2016, in Huntsville, Texas, at age 88.

He was born in Atlantic, Iowa, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy immediately following his graduation from Atlantic High School in 1944. After completing his service, he earned three collegiate degrees: a bachelor’s in economics from Cornell College, a master’s in economics from the University of Michigan in 1949, and a doctorate in economics from Louisiana State University in 1953.

His 50 years of collegiate teaching included stints on the faculty at Louisiana State, the University of Houston, the University of Texas, Stephen F. Austin University (where he chaired the economics department), and at Northwestern State University, where he was dean of the College of Business and named dean emeritus upon retirement. He ended his academic career at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, where he was professor of economics and international business.

He spent a sabbatical year at the Federal Reserve in Washington, D.C., and another sabbatical year teaching graduate economics courses at U.S. Air Force bases in England, Germany, and Spain.

He is survived by his wife of almost 65 years, Dorothy Trichel, three children, and four grandchildren,