Terry Townsend is a native of Champaign. He has been a tireless advocate for equal rights and opportunity for nearly 40 years. As a public official, Mr. Townsend was personally influential in procuring the first grant dollars for the improvement of the Housing Authority of Champaign County properties. He is also the founder of the African‐American All‐Class high school reunion, perhaps the largest and most successful event of this type in the United States. He owns the copyright for this event. He is both an alumnus and retiree of the University of Illinois and a member of the Kappa Delta Phi Honor Society.

Terry was featured in Difference Makers 2010: An eBlack Champaign-Urbana Publication.