After graduating in 1961 from Kansas State University, I was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the artillery. I attended physical therapy school at the Mayo Clinic before serving two years of active duty Army at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Following active duty, I transferred into the Army Medical Specialist Corps and spent the next 20 years in the active reserves. In 1995 I retired as a full Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves.
For more information about Col. Duane Saunders click here.
Bonnie and I have been active in supporting various activities at K-State, particularly in support of the Army ROTC program. In 2002, I donated a restored 1947 Willis Army Jeep to the department to use for recruiting, parades and other campus activities. The jeep is known as the COL Saunders and is seen quite often on campus. Then in 2008, Bonnie and I donated funds to a designated housing complex for the Army and Air Force ROTC Cadets. The Saunders Barracks is a 48-unit apartment building in the newly constructed Jardine complex on campus.
The duty and experiences that I have had in the U.S. Army – all the way from ROTC, the Artillery, the AMSC, and even in retirement – have been a large part of my overall life experiences. I am thankful for the choices I made and grateful to those who supported and believed in me. I feel proud to continue supporting the Army ROTC program at K-State because I credit the ROTC and K-State, along with Delta Sigma Phi, as making key contributions to my life.
