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Behind the scenesIn any successful business, there's always at least one person behind the scenes, who pushes the rest of the company to succeed. The one who challenges you to do your very best, to produce the best product possible and supports you to achieve those goals. At High Plains Journal, that person, one of our biggest cheerleaders, was Edward W. "Pete" Armstrong, Chairman of the Board of High Plains Publishers, Inc., who died this week at the age of 88. Pete believed in putting the farmer and livestock producers--our readers--above all else. He often said, "Take care of the farmer first." And that's what we've tried to do over the years. He wanted the Journal to share success stories with farmers, to help our readers become better producers. Pete understood farmers and their family-owned businesses. He understood the challenges but he was also proud that High Plains Journal was a family-owned business, as he should have been. Pete's own family began a business nearly 100 years ago, when his father, Charley Armstrong, merged his printing plant with another local printer to create McCormick-Armstrong Company. Following his service with the Army Air Corps during WWII, Pete joined the company in 1946 and later served as President and CEO. In 1959, founder and retired publisher of High Plains Journal, Joe Berkley, joined forces with Pete and McCormick-Armstrong and together Pete and Joe took High Plains Journal from a small weekly farm paper to one of the leading farm publications in the country. Pete encouraged the High Plains Journal staff to put out the best publication possible and invested in the best tools available to help achieve that goal. Not only was he a strong supporter of those who worked for him, but also of farm organizations and community interests, as well. Pete, through High Plains Journal, nurtured the fledgling Kansas Association of Wheat Growers and later was a strong advocate for the establishment of the National Association of Wheat Growers. In 1994, he established the E.W. "Pete" Armstrong Endowed Scholarship in chemistry at Wichita State University. He recently was inducted into the Junior Achievement of Wichita Hall of Fame. Pete will be sorely missed by employees of High Plains Journal, McCormick-Armstrong, Terrell Creative and his family. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mildred "Mickey" McCoy Armstrong, four daughters; Sally (John) Hudnall of Lawrence, Kan., Marilyn (Joseph) Hughey of Santa Fe, N.M., Carolyn (Phillip) Virden of Lake City, Colo., Susie (Stuart) Palmer of Jackson, Wyo., grandchildren; Chris, Andy and Scott Hudnall, Lily and Dasha Virden and Sarah (Russell) Palmer Greenall-Sharp and Annie and Emily Palmer.Holly Martin can be reached by phone at 620-227-1806, or by e-mail at hmartin@hpj.com.
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2011. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
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