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Purdue trustee, former state senator dies

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Former state senator and 1984 Democratic nominee for governor Wayne Townsend has died.

Townsend, a longtime Purdue University trustee, was from Hartford City.

Townsend had been battling a medical conditions.

Joe Hogsett, a candidate for Indianapolis mayor, release a statement on Townsend’s death that said, in part, “His legacy of leadership will live on through the generations who have sought to follow in his footsteps and work to give every Hoosier a shot at the American Dream. My thoughts are with his wife, Helen, and the entire Townsend family.”

Purdue President Mitch Daniels also released a statement on Townsend’s death. It said, in part, “Indiana just lost a great citizen and one of our greatest Boilermakers.”