Dr. Townsend grew up in Seattle, WA. He graduated from Franklin High School where he played football on a championship team. He was in the U.S. Naval Air Reserve and served his military time in the United States Army based in Germany. He was the Heavy Weight Artillery Boxing Champion and was the runner up Heavy Weight in the 5th Division championship. He played football at Central Washington University. 

Dr Townsend has 3 daughters, 6 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, all living in Washington State. Dr Townsend has been married to his wonderful wife Mae for 40+ years. 

Dr. Townsend earned his degree in 1966 at Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, the first school of chiropractic in the world. He researched and developed a number of chiropractic treatment techniques that are now used worldwide. Dr. Townsend has practiced many years and lectured all over the world on Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT) and became International Chiropractor of the Year in 1999. He wrote the first textbook for SOT for the Pacific Asian Chiropractic College in Tokyo, Japan. Earning the appreciation of the P.A.A.C Chairman Susumu Kaneko Seminar Committee Chairman Yoshiharu in 1984.