Donald D. Eustice Memorial Scholarship

In March of 1952, Don was interviewed by the City Council for a position with the Waseca Police force. He was employed by the City for nearly a year when Sheriff Happy Lowe and his deputy Harvey Domy announced that they were retiring. Don applied for the job as deputy and Stanley Bailey, a Janesville policeman, applied for sheriff - and both were accepted by the County Commissioners. The two worked together until 1966, when Stan decided to retire.

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Don filed for sheriff in 1966 and was elected. He took office on January 1, 1967 as Sheriff of Waseca County - a position he held until September of 1976, having been re-elected in 1970 and again in 1974.

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In 1963, Don was named Waseca's Outstanding Young Man because of his work with the youth. The Waseca Herald on March 8, 1963, reporting on this award, said "apparently believing that the prevention of delinquency is better than curing it, the deputy sheriff is active in the affairs of the Teen Canteen which he heads and serves as Cubmaster. He is a member of the Waseca Fire Department, K.C.s, and the VFW."

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The Mankato Free Press ran a similar story on March 8 with an article entitled "He Got His Experience at Home". "Don Eustice has had ample opportunity to gain experience working with youth as he has seven children of his own". (Two more children were born later.) Don became a Rotarian in September 1963. In 1973 he became president of the organization.

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In the fall of 1967, Don became the first president of the Bluejay Booster Club - a club he helped organize. And, Don was the chairman of the Sleigh and Cutter Festival in 1969.

In 1968, Don became president of the Boys Ranch in Austin. The "Eustice Center" (a school and gym at the ranch) was named in recognition of his efforts to make the program of rehabilitation for youths a success before they got into more serious trouble. Don accepted the Governors Safety Award from Gov. LeVander in 1970 for "Meritous Achievement in recognition of outstanding accident prevention performance in traffic safety law enforcement." It was also in 1970 that Don organized a sheriff's posse and sometime later, a snowmobile posse.

The Waseca Journal ran an article in 1971 that said "Don instigated a drug emphasis week in the area schools. The program received more favorable support than any program of its kind in the area. A team of three former drug addicts met with the students in New Richland, Janesville, Waldorf, Southern School of Agriculture as well as the Waseca Central students. The main speaker was William Cahn, District Attorney of Nassau County, NY, who also had a program in the evening for adults."

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Don belonged to the Southern Peace and Police Officers Association - often hosting the meetings. He was a member of the Minnesota Sheriff's Association, holding many offices in the organization as well as being elected as President in 1973, a position he held for a couple of years. As president of the sheriffs, Don expressed his hopes to be able to set up a program of in-service training and continued education for all sheriffs and deputies in Minnesota that would then establish them as the best trained, best educated sheriffs.

The Invitational Wrestling Tournament started in December 1974 with Don being instrumental in promoting it. Following Don's death, the name of the tourney was changed to the Don Eustice Memorial Wrestling Tournament. The tournament was discontinued in 2006.

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Sheriff Pat Smith Sr. of LeSueur County and Don started a boy's group home here in Waseca 1975 to serve both counties for wayward boys. The grant that helped to get the Waseca-LeSueur Boys Group Home established was applied for by Don. The home was located on the corner of 3rd Street and 2nd Avenue NE.

Besides the organization listed above, Don was a member of the Sportsman Club in Janesville, Eagles organization, worked on Region 9 Criminal Justice Advisory Committee, worked with the schools to have a Home-School counselor, applied for grants to bring in drug agents for the quad counties, and started the Operation Identification for Waseca County. It was through Don's efforts working with Senator Hubert Humphrey that Waseca County was able to receive their first police radios. When Waseca County needed an ambulance service, Don found a competent person to fulfill the job. Many Waseca County youngsters were aboard the school buses that took them to the Minnesota Twins Knot-Hole baseball games (with soda pop and snacks available during the game), all arranged by Don. Teenagers were entertained most every Saturday night (and every night during the county fair) with Teen Canteen dances held in a building at the fairgrounds. The bands were booked by Don and chaperoned by Don and his friends. Throughout Don's adult life, he was known by many for his support and guidance. He was a mentor, an advisor, a sounding board, and he had an "Irish" sense of humor. He gave generously of his time, his home was always open for those seeking shelter, and helped those in need with limited financial support. Because of his involvement in so many areas, Don was often asked to be a guest speaker at church functions, women's groups, civic organizations and at schools throughout the county.

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On September 4th, 1976, Don went with a deputy to serve a commitment paper on a mentally-ill man in rural Waseca County. The man had known Don for a long time - in fact, he had brought garden produce to the jail the previous week. When Don and the deputy arrived at the farmhouse, they called to this man to come outside - he opened the door, raised up his shotgun and shot Don in the chest.

Bill Patton, the Waseca County Attorney, wrote "This is about the death of my friend, Don Eustice. He felt every man could be his friend and by his own actions in the face of all kinds of opposition I have seen him quiet a drunk, quell a fighter, soothe a distraught individual, almost always by making friends with him. This time Don knew he could help his friend and he went forth without question. But this last time it didn't work. Don literally laid down his life upon his cardinal belief that every man could and would be his friend - it was nothing foolhardy - it had always worked - except this time."

Le Sueur County Sheriff, Pat Smith Sr., and Don started a boys group home in Waseca in 1975, to serve both counties for wayward boys. The grant that helped get the Waseca-Le Sueur county Boys Home established, was applied for by Don. This later expanded into several counties in MN known as Youth Ranches of MN. On September 4th, 1976, Don went, with a deputy, to serve a commitment paper to a mentally-ill man in Waseca County. The man had known Don for a long time-in fact, he had brought garden produce to the jail the previous week. When Don and the deputy arrived at the farmhouse, they called the man to come outside - he opened the door, raised up his shot gun, and shot Don in the chest.

The Wagon Train has continued, in Don's honor, for 35 years to raise money to help our youth. Most recently, the Children's Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota receive the remaining money donated to help families that need medical help and need to stay at the Ronald McDonald House.

Scholarships will be awarded to applicants working towards a career in a law enforcement/criminal justice-related field. First priority will be given to: The applicant is an active member of a posse in good standing with the MSMPA. The applicant is the child of or a grandchild of an active posse member whose posse is in good standing with MSMPA. The applicant meets one of the above and is a 2nd year college student enrolled in applicable program. Second priority will be as follows: The applicant is the child of or a grandchild of an active posse member whose posse is in good standing with MSMPA.
Third priority will be as follows: Applicant is a child of law enforcement staff who works for a MSMPA-member sheriff’s office. FINAL PRIORITY GIVEN AND FINAL DECISIONS ARE AT THE DISCRETION OF THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE.