The late Dale Eizinger (A’47) used to say that he was probably the only straight-A student who ever needed seven years to graduate from college. The joke always got a laugh, but behind it is a story of sacrifice, service, and an enduring Boilermaker legacy.
Born and raised in a small farm town in northern Indiana, Dale hitchhiked to Purdue in the fall of 1940—the first leg of a remarkable journey that would take him from campus to the battlefields of Europe and back again before he finished his degree. Dale’s persistence in the face of challenges—all without a single complaint—continue to shape his family’s Purdue story today.
“My grandfather was loyal, patient, and hardworking, and he taught us how important it is to serve others, share our talents, and help those who need it most,” says Burke Eizinger (A’07), who represents the third generation of his family to attend Purdue.
“He was always so proud that we all followed in his footsteps and went to Purdue,” Burke says. “He would tell everyone that we had three generations of Purdue alumni in our family. I don’t know if I would have gone to Purdue if it wasn’t for him. He started it all.”
When Dale arrived at Purdue, he immediately enrolled in the university’s two-year Army ROTC program—a requirement for most able-bodied male students at the time. After completing the program, he joined the enlisted reserve corps, expecting to finish college before being called to duty.
Instead, near the end of his junior year, his plans changed. Dale was ordered to Fort Bragg in North Carolina for basic training. After completing officer candidate school, he was assigned to the 63rd Infantry Division and, in the fall of 1944, deployed overseas.
He joined the 724th Field Artillery Battalion on the border between Germany and Belgium, where the unit had been in combat for less than a week. As executive officer of a firing battery, Dale helped lead soldiers through some of the final months of World War II—and earned a Bronze Star for his service.
Even when he was thousands of miles from home, Purdue was never far from Dale’s heart. Whenever he could, Dale tuned in to Boilermaker basketball games on Armed Forces Radio. He later claimed he never missed listening to—or watching—a Boilermaker game for the rest of his life.
Dale’s military career spanned 11 years, including three years of active service. When the war was over, he returned to Purdue to finish the degree he had put on hold to serve his country. He then dedicated his life to helping others build their own futures, assisting fellow veterans in establishing careers in farming and later becoming a middle school math and science teacher.
Two more generations of Boilermakers followed in Dale’s footsteps, including son Timothy Eizinger (A’74) and grandchildren Amy Eizinger-Ott (A’02) and Burke. To honor Dale’s memory, the Eizinger family created a scholarship for Fulton County high schoolers looking to study agriculture, giving other students the opportunity to pursue their own dreams.
“If I could tell my grandfather one thing today, it would be ‘Thank you for making that decision to go to Purdue,’” Burke says. “He changed the course of our family’s story, and he will always be the example to me and my family of what it means to be a Boilermaker.”
—Nicolle DeWitt
“Victories & Heroes: Your Campaign for Purdue” is inspired by the powerful words of Purdue’s fight song, recognizing those who came before. If you have a Purdue hero in your life, we want to hear from you—share your story for an opportunity to be featured.
You can also contribute to the campaign today! Your investment will strengthen Purdue, elevate the university’s reputation, and expand opportunities for current and future Boilermakers.
