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William L. Armstrong

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William L. Armstrong
President of Colorado Christian University
In office
August 2006 – July 5, 2016
Preceded byLarry Donnithorne
Succeeded byDonald W. Sweeting
United States Senator
from Colorado
In office
January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1991
Preceded byFloyd Haskell
Succeeded byHank Brown
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Colorado's 5th district
In office
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1979
Preceded byConstituency established
Succeeded byKen Kramer
Personal details
Born
William Lester Armstrong

(1937-03-16)March 16, 1937
Fremont, Nebraska, U.S.
DiedJuly 5, 2016(2016-07-05) (aged 79)
Denver, Colorado, U.S.
Resting placeFairmount Cemetery
Political partyRepublican
SpouseEllie M. Eaton
Children2
EducationTulane University
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Army
Years of service1957–1963
UnitArmy National Guard

William Lester Armstrong (March 16, 1937 – July 5, 2016) was an American businessman, administrator and politician. He was a member of the Republican party and served as a United States Representative and Senator from Colorado.[1] Armstrong died from cancer at the age of 79 on July 5, 2016.[2] He is survived by his wife and two children, Wil Armstrong and Annie Sellman.

Early life and career

Armstrong was born March 16, 1937, in Fremont, Nebraska, and graduated from Lincoln Northeast High School. He was the son of William L. Armstrong, Sr. and Dorothy Steen Armstrong. His great-great uncle, Alexander Majors was co-founder of the Pony Express, and of the famous Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express Company, the main stagecoach line that connected St. Joseph, Missouri, Denver, and Salt Lake City.

Radio career

At the age of eleven, he interviewed with a local radio station in Fremont and was given his own show on weekends to practice his DJ skills.

After high school, he met Todd Storz, known as the father of the Top 40 radio format. He hired Armstrong at KOWH in Omaha, Nebraska, then transferred him to WTIX in New Orleans, where he became America's first teenage Top 40 disc jockey.While there, he briefly attended Tulane University, but two years later, in 1956, he moved to Minneapolis  to work at WDGY. There he took classes at the University of Minnesota but did not earn a degree. Within a few months, he was appointed Program Director at the radio station, at the age of 20. He then chose to enlist in the United States National Guard from 1957 to 1963.

After returning from duty at age 22 in 1959, Armstrong bought radio station KOSI-AM in Aurora, Colorado, which became KEZW in 1981.[3][4] Armstrong founded KOSI-FM in 1968 before selling both the KOSI-AM and KOSI-FM stations 25 years later.[5][6] He also was president of Ambassador Media, which owned television station KPVI in Pocatello, Idaho and satellite stations KKVI in Twin Falls, Idaho and KJVI in Jackson, Wyoming.[7][3][5][8][9]

Political career

In 1962 during that time, Armstrong was the youngest person ever elected to the Colorado House of Representatives, where he served one term. He then served in the Colorado State Senate from 1964 to 1972, including two terms as President of the Senate.[10] In 1972, Armstrong was elected to the U.S. Congress from the new fifth district. He was reelected to the 94th and 95th Congresses.[11] In 1978, Armstrong was elected to the U.S. Senate, defeating former astronaut Jack Swigert in the GOP primary in September,[12] and Democratic incumbent Floyd Haskell in November. He and Swigert became good friends and Armstrong was with the former astronaut when he died from cancer in December 1982.[13][14] Reelected in 1984, he served in the Senate for twelve years. Armstrong served on the Banking, Finance, and Budget Committees, and was noted for his successful effort to index personal income tax rates to the rate of inflation.[15] Majority Leader Robert 'Bob' Dole later referred to Armstrong as “the father of tax indexing".[16] In 1980, Armstrong actively worked to make GI Bill benefits permanent for U.S. military personnel.[17] In February 1982, Senator Armstrong, alongside Congressman Carlos Moorhead sponsored the resolution S.J. Res 165 authorizing and requesting the President to proclaim 1983 as the “Year of the Bible”.[18] President Ronald Reagan implemented the resolution as Public Law 97-280. Following the formal designation of 1983 being the Year of the Bible, Armstrong served on the newly created National Committee to help focus attention on the year-long observance.

In 1983, Armstrong chaired the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Social Security,[19] and served on the National Commission on Social Security Reform,[20] which was created to find solutions to the long-term financing of the program. He was the only Commission member to vote against its final 1983 report because it failed to include any change in the eligible retirement age, though his view prevailed in the final legislation enacted by Congress.[21]

During his time in office, Senator Armstrong worked on welfare reform. He supported the passage of the Family Support Act 1988, the first change in welfare rules in 50 years.[22] Working with Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, and Governors Bill Clinton (D-AR), and Mike Castle (R-DE), the final bill passed the Senate by a vote of 93-3.[23] The new law imposed work requirements (16 hours/week) on able-bodied welfare recipients for the first time.[24] The bill also extended welfare benefits for unemployed 2-parent families and included the child support enforcement provision backed by Armstrong, a requirement for minor parents to be in school,[25] and a screening process intended to reduce fraudulent claims.[26]

In 1985 Armstrong introduced the Korean War Veterans Memorial Act.[27] He sponsored the Senate bill to authorize the privately-funded memorial, which passed in 1986.[28] After it's passage, he participated in numerous fund-raising efforts over the next decade, working closely with long-time friend and Korean War veteran, Congressman Mike McKevitt. The last bill Armstrong introduced before retiring from the Senate authorized the U.S. Mint to issue a silver dollar commemorating the war’s 38th anniversary,[29] with proceeds from sales (which eventually totaled over $22 million) helping finance the memorial.[30] The bill passed and was sent to the President just three days before Armstrong’s farewell speech to the Senate. Senator Armstrong opposed congressional pay raises and was critical of Senators who voted to raise pay, or on one occasion allowed a 50% pay raise to take effect without a vote.[31] He was also noted in the early 1980s for sponsorship of a landmark soil conservation measure known as the “Sodbuster bill,”[32][33] which denied federal subsidies for plowing fragile grasslands. It was adopted as part of the 1985 Farm Bill.

He was the chairman of the Republican Policy Committee (99th through 101st Congresses); he opted to retire and did not seek reelection in 1990.

Throughout 1986, there was considerable speculation about Armstrong running for President in 1988.[34][35][34]

Spiritual Life

In the 1970s, Armstrong experienced a religious conversion. After that experience, he said, he became “more tolerant of other people’s opinions”[36] and “didn’t believe being a politician and a Christian were mutually exclusive”.[37] He then began 40 years of active involvement in Evangelicalism in the United States.

In 1982, he served as the general chairman of the National Prayer Breakfast,[38] and alongside President Ronald Reagan, delivered the keynote address at the 1988 National Prayer breakfast.[39] Speaking at religious gatherings, he often related the story of how a stranger came to see him in the Capitol and led him to the four spiritual laws. The four spiritual laws are based on the famous booklet by  Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ.  He held daily Bible studies with his family, began leading meetings with prayers, and shared his experience very publicly.[40] Within congress, colleagues called Armstrong for legislative support as well as spiritual guidance.[37] Former Vice-President Dan Quayle noted in an 1982 interview that during his time in the Senate, Armstrong and Douglas Coe  were apart of a weekly Bible study group.[41] He believed his political and cultural undertakings were “vulcanized” inseparably to his Christian faith.[42][42] He was a part of the Family Channel, Christian Businessmen’s Committee, Trinity forum, Christian Embassy, The Calling, & Charles Colson’s Prison Ministries.[43] He was on the Board of Directors of Campus Crusade for Christ for 15 years.[44]

Armstrong died from cancer at the age of 79 in 2016.[3]

Academic Career

Armstrong was President of Colorado Christian University at the time of his death, having served in that position since 2006. During his tenure as president, Armstrong became well known for his catchphrase "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus." His involvement in Christian organizations and the national evangelical movement became a notable aspect of his legacy and his impact on others. While President, he supported the creation of “The Calling” ministry in 2010.[45] Although he eventually held eight honorary degrees, he never finished college.[46]

References

  1. ^ "William L. Armstrong". NNDB. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  2. ^ "Former U.S. senator, university president Bill Armstrong has died". The Denver Post. 2016-07-06. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  3. ^ a b c Elliott, Dan (July 6, 2016). "William Armstrong, ex-US senator for Colorado, dies at 79". Associated Press. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  4. ^ "William Armstrong, ex-US senator for Colorado, dies at 79". AP NEWS. 2016-07-06. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  5. ^ a b "Remembering Bill Armstrong". KOSI. July 11, 2016. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  6. ^ "Bill Armstrong Obituary". www.ccu.edu. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  7. ^ Richard Fatherly & David MacFarland, The Birth of Top 40 Radio Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., 2014, p. 38.
  8. ^ "William L. "Bill" Armstrong, 1937-2016". Colorado Christian University. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  9. ^ "Group Ownership" (PDF). Broadcasting & Cable Yearbook 1995. R.R. Bowker. 1995. p. A-98. ISBN 0835236013.
  10. ^ President Armstrong Announces Retirement
  11. ^ "Sen. William Armstrong". Govtrack.us. Retrieved October 4, 2012.
  12. ^ "Primaries kind to most incumbents". Deseret News. (Salt Lake City, Utah). UPI. September 13, 1978. p. A-1.
  13. ^ "Apollo 13 astronaut dies at 51". Pittsburgh Press. UPI. December 28, 1982. p. A-9.
  14. ^ Treaster, Joseph B. (December 29, 1982). "Jack Swigert, astronaut elected to Congress, dies". New York Times. Retrieved July 18, 2019.
  15. ^ "(Indexing additional sources - Congressional Record July 5, 1981, page 15771; page 15781; Armstrong's primary speech during the debate on pages 15788-15792. Congressional Record July 16, 1981, pages 16121-16122; page 16138. Congressional Record, July 23, 1981, Page 17075. Congressional record, July 27, 1981, page 17508; page 17656. Congressional Record, July 19, 1981, pages 17967-17968.)". Congressional Record (Bound Edition).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ "Congressional Record, October 27, 1990, page 36277". www.govinfo.gov. Retrieved 2020-04-02.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ William L. Armstrong, speech to Air Force Association, Washington Sheraton Hotel, 9/16/80
  18. ^ 97th congress 2-day session S.J. REs 165 Authorizing the Requesting the President to proclaim 1983 as the “Year of the Bible”
  19. ^ John Svahn, Mary Ross (April 20, 1983). "Social Security Amendments of 1983: Legislative history and Summary of Provisions" (PDF). p. Page 48, Appendix C: Membership of the National Commission on Social Security Reform.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ Administration, Social Security. "MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM". ssa.gov.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "Social Security History". www.ssa.gov. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  22. ^ Bentson, Lloyd. "Reforming the Welfare System: The Family Support Act of 1988". Journal of Legislation, Symposium on Poverty. 16 (2, Article 2).
  23. ^ Moynihan, Daniel Patrick (1988-06-16). "Actions - S.1511 - 100th Congress (1987-1988): Family Security Act of 1988". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  24. ^ "Text of H.R. 1720 (100th): Family Support Act of 1988 (Passed Congress version) 102 Stat. 2376". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2020-04-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ^ "Text of H.R. 1720 (100th): Family Support Act of 1988 (Passed Congress version) 102 Stat. 2358". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2020-04-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ Institute for Research, on Poverty. "The Family Support Act of 1988" (PDF). https://www.irp.wisc.edu/. p. Page 17. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  27. ^ Armstrong, William L. (1986-09-17). "S.1223 - 99th Congress (1985-1986): Korean War Veterans Memorial Act of 1985". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  28. ^ Armstrong, William L. (1986-09-17). "Actions - S.1223 - 99th Congress (1985-1986): Korean War Veterans Memorial Act of 1985". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  29. ^ Armstrong, William L. (1990-10-31). "S.2737 - 101st Congress (1989-1990): Korean War Veterans Memorial Thirty-Eighth Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  30. ^ Armstrong, William L. (1990-10-31). "S.2737 - 101st Congress (1989-1990): Korean War Veterans Memorial Thirty-Eighth Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act". www.congress.gov. Retrieved 2020-04-06.
  31. ^ Machado, Lohanna (2018-12-20). "Entrevista com Piers Armstrong". Opiniães (13): 36–39. doi:10.11606/issn.2525-8133.opiniaes.2018.152879. ISSN 2525-8133.
  32. ^ Armstrong, Bill (2016-06-03). "News From Bill Armstrong: ARMSTRONG REINTRODUCES SODBUSTER BILL, ENLISTS 19 COSPONSORS, March 3, 1983". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  33. ^ Walcher, Greg. "Plowing New Ground on Old Issues | The American Spectator | Politics Is Too Important To Be Taken Seriously". The American Spectator. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  34. ^ a b "Space research at Denver". Physics Today. 18 (11): 86–86. November 1965. doi:10.1063/1.3047017. ISSN 0031-9228.
  35. ^ "Meetings in the Rocky Mountain Region". Rocky Mountain Review. 34 (2): 86–89. 1980. doi:10.1353/rmr.1980.0037. ISSN 1948-2833.
  36. ^ Elliott, Dan (2016-07-07). "William L. Armstrong, Republican senator from Colorado, dies at 79". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  37. ^ a b "Bill Armstrong: Senator & Christian". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  38. ^ "Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the Congress: 43rd Congress, 4 March 1873-". The SHAFR Guide Online. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  39. ^ President Ronald Reagan National Prayer Breakfast 1988, retrieved 2020-04-08
  40. ^ Fulcher, Michelle P. "Former Senator Bill Armstrong Blended Conservative Politics And Evangelical Christianity". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  41. ^ Pines, Amos (2009-10-15). "Where postmenopausal hormone therapy stands today". HORMONES. 8 (4): 227–231. doi:10.14310/horm.2002.1241. ISSN 1109-3099.
  42. ^ a b John Andrews (2016-07-08). "The Bill Armstrong I knew". The Colorado Independent. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  43. ^ "Armstrong Legacy". www.ccu.edu. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  44. ^ "Greetings from the President". Colorado Christian University. Retrieved October 6, 2012.
  45. ^ "Our History – The Calling". Retrieved 2020-04-20.
  46. ^ Bunch, Joey (July 22, 2016). "Former U.S. senator, university president Bill Armstrong has died". denverpost.com.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
U.S. House of Representatives
New constituency Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Colorado's 5th congressional district
1973–1979 		Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Colorado
(Class 2)
1978, 1984 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chair of the Senate Republican Policy Committee
1985–1991 		Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. Senator (Class 2) from Colorado
1979–1991
Served alongside: Gary Hart, Tim Wirth 		Succeeded by
Honorary titles
Preceded by President of Colorado Christian University
2006–2016 		Succeeded by
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