In 1995 when Edward W. "Pete" Armstrong '42 was presented the Lewis Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award for his accomplishments in the printing industry, the chairman and principal owner of Wichita-based McCormick-Armstrong Co. Inc. was described this way: “Pete Armstrong is a classic. The frugal son of a printer, a printer’s printer with the industry’s interest always at heart.”
Armstrong — whose father was the Armstrong of the printing firm’s original partners — joined McCormick-Armstrong as a photographer, after graduating from the University of Wichita with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and serving in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II as a photographic officer.
He soon moved into plant manufacturing departments and estimating and became plant superintendent in the early 1950s. In 1968, he became president as well as principal owner and at the time of his death was chairman and director of McCormick-Armstrong and two related companies, High Plains Publishers, Dodge City, Kan., and Terrell Publishing, Kansas City, Mo.
As focused as he was on the business of printing, Armstrong held many diverse interests — photography, jazz, music theater, Wichita State University — and was dedicated to his family and community.
Pete Armstrong died June 8 in Wichita.
