the latter's shutdown in 1991. Community support Throughout his career, Olmsted worked with colleges and universities and sought to enhance the availability and quality of higher education for all people. He served on the Board of Trustees at Drake University in Des Moines, the American University in Washington, the West Point Association of Graduates, the West Point Alumni Foundation, and from 1973 to 1978, at the appointment of President Nixon, on the Board of Visitors at West Point. He received honorary degrees from several universities: Doctor of Laws – Drake University. Doctor of International Relations – Southeastern University. Doctor of Business Administration – Iowa Wesleyan College. Doctor of Commercial Science – Coe College. George and Carol Olmsted Foundation In 1959, Olmsted and his wife Carol established the George Olmsted Foundation. The foundation later changed its name to the George and Carol Olmsted foundation. The principal activity of the Foundation is The Olmsted Scholar Program. Working with the support and cooperation of the Department of Defense and the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, the Program offers financial grants to outstanding young officers that are graduates of the three service academies, ROTC programs or OCS/OTS, for two years of graduate study and educational travel in a non-English speaking foreign country. Each year, a number of young officers (currently there are approximately 18–20 officers selected each year) are competitively selected. They enroll as full-time, resident students at a foreign university of their choice which has been approved by their service and the Foundation Board Of Directors. While they may choose their course of study with the approval of their service, it is generally preferred that they study in a non-technical curriculum. Studies are usually conducted in the language of the country in which the university is located, except in rare cases where the language of instruction may be English but the surrounding culture is non-English speaking. Scholars are expected to travel extensively throughout the region where the university is located interacting with the residents and learning as much as they can about local customs, traditions and history. Since 1959, 600 officers have been selected as Olmsted Scholars. They have attended over 200 different universities located in 60 different countries. Today, there are 40 general or flag rank officers either active or retired who have been Olmsted Scholars, including one former Chief of Naval operations, the last Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic