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William Armstrong, Conservative Voice in Senate, Dies at 79 William Armstrong, Conservative Voice in Senate, Dies at 79
(35 minutes later)
DENVER — William L. Armstrong, a Colorado media executive who became a strong conservative voice in the United States Senate, died on Tuesday. He was 79.DENVER — William L. Armstrong, a Colorado media executive who became a strong conservative voice in the United States Senate, died on Tuesday. He was 79.
Colorado Christian University, of which he was president, announced his death but did not say where he died. He had been treated for cancer for five years. Colorado Christian University, of which he was the president, announced his death but did not say where he died. He had been treated for cancer for five years.
Mr. Armstrong was first elected to the Senate in 1978 and served two terms, focusing mostly on economic issues. He sponsored an amendment to a 1981 tax bill that indexed federal income tax brackets to compensate for inflation.Mr. Armstrong was first elected to the Senate in 1978 and served two terms, focusing mostly on economic issues. He sponsored an amendment to a 1981 tax bill that indexed federal income tax brackets to compensate for inflation.
In 1981, he led conservative opposition to President Ronald Reagan’s proposed budget, contending that the administration was not doing enough to cut long-term federal deficits. The move forced the administration to come up with a compromise.In 1981, he led conservative opposition to President Ronald Reagan’s proposed budget, contending that the administration was not doing enough to cut long-term federal deficits. The move forced the administration to come up with a compromise.
Two years later, as a member of a commission appointed by Reagan to devise a plan to solve Social Security’s financial problems, Mr. Armstrong said the proposed solutions were focusing too much on raising Social Security taxes and not enough on cutting future benefits. His proposal to raise the retirement age for Social Security recipients was not adopted.Two years later, as a member of a commission appointed by Reagan to devise a plan to solve Social Security’s financial problems, Mr. Armstrong said the proposed solutions were focusing too much on raising Social Security taxes and not enough on cutting future benefits. His proposal to raise the retirement age for Social Security recipients was not adopted.
He was also a sponsor of a proposed constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget.He was also a sponsor of a proposed constitutional amendment to require a balanced federal budget.
Mr. Armstrong’s career in elected office began in 1962 when he won a seat in the Colorado Legislature. He eventually became majority leader of the State Senate.Mr. Armstrong’s career in elected office began in 1962 when he won a seat in the Colorado Legislature. He eventually became majority leader of the State Senate.
In 1972 he moved to the United States House of Representatives, winning election from a newly created seat in the eastern suburbs of Denver. He was easily re-elected twice. In 1972 he moved to the United States House of Representatives, winning election to a newly created seat in the eastern suburbs of Denver. He was easily re-elected twice.
In 1978, Mr. Armstrong decided to run for the Senate seat held by a Democrat, Floyd Haskell. After an easy primary victory, he defeated Mr. Haskell in the general election with 59 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 1984 in another comfortable victory over a Democratic opponent and retired from the Senate in 1991.In 1978, Mr. Armstrong decided to run for the Senate seat held by a Democrat, Floyd Haskell. After an easy primary victory, he defeated Mr. Haskell in the general election with 59 percent of the vote. He was re-elected in 1984 in another comfortable victory over a Democratic opponent and retired from the Senate in 1991.
William Lester Armstrong was born in Fremont, Neb., on March 16, 1937. He attended high school in Lincoln, Neb., and later went to Tulane University in New Orleans and the University of Minnesota, though he did not earn a degree. He served in the Army National Guard from 1957 to 1963.William Lester Armstrong was born in Fremont, Neb., on March 16, 1937. He attended high school in Lincoln, Neb., and later went to Tulane University in New Orleans and the University of Minnesota, though he did not earn a degree. He served in the Army National Guard from 1957 to 1963.
He started working at radio stations in Nebraska at a young age. At 22, he bought a radio station on the outskirts of Denver, KOSI-AM, beginning a career that made him wealthy.He started working at radio stations in Nebraska at a young age. At 22, he bought a radio station on the outskirts of Denver, KOSI-AM, beginning a career that made him wealthy.
Mr. Armstrong was later president of KEZW in Denver and president of the Ambassador Media Corporation, which owned television stations in Pocatello and Twin Falls, Idaho, and Jackson, Wyo. He was also president of the Colorado Springs newspaper The Sun. Mr. Armstrong was later the president of KEZW in Denver and the president of the Ambassador Media Corporation, which owned television stations in Pocatello and Twin Falls, Idaho, and Jackson, Wyo. He was also the president of the Colorado Springs newspaper The Sun.
Mr. Armstrong married Ellen M. Eaton in 1962, and she survives him.Mr. Armstrong married Ellen M. Eaton in 1962, and she survives him.
In the 1970s, he had what he called a “conversion experience,” which he said made him a more committed Christian and more tolerant of other people’s opinions. “My own limitations and shortcomings remind me not to be too critical of the failings of others,” said Mr. Armstrong, who was raised in the Presbyterian Church and became a Lutheran when he married.In the 1970s, he had what he called a “conversion experience,” which he said made him a more committed Christian and more tolerant of other people’s opinions. “My own limitations and shortcomings remind me not to be too critical of the failings of others,” said Mr. Armstrong, who was raised in the Presbyterian Church and became a Lutheran when he married.
After leaving the Senate, Mr. Armstrong was director of the evangelical group Campus Crusade for Christ from 1991 to 2008. He was named president of Colorado Christian University, in Lakewood, in 2006. After leaving the Senate, Mr. Armstrong was the director of the evangelical group Campus Crusade for Christ from 1991 to 2008. He was named the president of Colorado Christian University, in Lakewood, in 2006.
His business career included the chairmanship of three mortgage companies and of the Denver-based Oppenheimer Funds mutual funds group.His business career included the chairmanship of three mortgage companies and of the Denver-based Oppenheimer Funds mutual funds group.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Armstrong is survived by a daughter, Anne; a son, Wil; and eight grandchildren, according to the university.In addition to his wife, Mr. Armstrong is survived by a daughter, Anne; a son, Wil; and eight grandchildren, according to the university.