Ernest J. Townsend was born in 1904 in Grawn, Michigan and in 1927 enrolled at the Michigan College of Mining and Technology in Houghton, Michigan, graduating with a B.S. in mining technology in 1930 and a M.S. in mining engineering in 1931. He also completed graduate studies at the University of Chicago in business administration. He joined the faculty at the Michigan College of Mining and Technology as an instructor in mining engineering. In 1945, he was appointed head of the newly-established engineering administration department and in 1947 was named assistant treasurer of the College. He assumed full-time duties as controller and treasurer in 1949, and in 1968 was named the first Vice President of Finance and Business of the recently renamed Michigan Technological University. He retired in 1969 and was awarded the University's Distinguished Service Award, the Alumni Association's Distinguished Service Award, and the Clair M. Donovan Service Award of the Blue Key Fraternity. For a time he was active in community affairs and local government, serving with the Houghton Village Council and the Houghton City Charter Commission. The city recognized his service by naming a street Townsend Drive, along which Michigan Technological University is situated. Ernest Townsend passed away in 1982.