People like Maurice Albertson are rare.
Albertson, primarily known as one of the architects of the Peace Corps, died Sunday at the age of 90.
In 1961, Albertson, a CSU civil engineering professor, and Pauline Birkey-Kreutzer led other members of the university faculty concerned about world poverty and hunger in developing effective strategies to deal with this issues. Albertson was one of few at the time who questioned how money funneled through the World Bank to struggling countries was being spent with little or no measurable impact on global poverty. The Colorado State University team's observations led to the development of a model for a global youth services corps.
Soon thereafter, Sargent Shriver, who was working within John F. Kennedy's administration, was searching for solutions to global poverty and promoting self-sufficiency over monetary aid. He contacted Albertson about his model, which eventually evolved into the Peace Corps. CSU was selected to train and supervise the first Peace Corps volunteers.
Today, the Peace Corps serves thousands in more than 70 countries, and CSU remains one of the most visible supporters in the number of participating volunteers with more than 1,400 serving in the organization. The Peace Corps has assisted communities in fighting hunger and disease, providing clean water, educating their children and in launching new businesses.
Albertson continued his humanitarian service by creating Village Earth, a nonprofit dedicated to sustainable village development. Amid his global pursuits, the professor also mentored local students in civil engineering road projects in Northern Colorado.
Albertson's legacy is his ability to look well beyond limitations such as funding and borders to see possibilities - possibilities that have improved the lives of thousands.
A memorial service is expected to be held in February.