On the recordJuly 14, 2016
it is indeed a privilege to be here with my colleague Senator Gardner as we recognize the life of a dedicated Coloradan, former Senator Bill Armstrong. Last week, Senator Armstrong passed away after a 5-year battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Ellen, daughter Anne, and son Will. He was an accomplished businessman, a longtime public servant, a dedicated educator, and, most importantly, a husband, father, and grandfather. He held strong principles and beliefs that he conveyed with eloquence and clarity. No one ever could question Senator Armstrong's devotion to Colorado or to his students. As a young entrepreneur, Senator Armstrong bought his first radio station at the age of 22 and began a long and successful business career. Over the course of his life, he owned or operated more than a dozen businesses, including radio station KEZW in Denver, Ambassador Media Corp, and the Sun newspaper in Colorado Springs. He also served as chairman of Oppenheimer Funds in Denver. Much of Senator Armstrong's adult life was driven by service, which began when he joined the U.S. Army National Guard, where he served from 1957 to 1963. Following his military service, he began his almost three decades in public service. He was a member of both the Colorado House and Senate and served, as Senator Gardner said, as Senate majority leader before being elected to Congress in 1972. After three terms in the House of Representatives, he was elected to the Senate in 1978.…
