With great sadness, I am writing to inform you that Bill Armstrong, president of Colorado Christian University, passed away on Tuesday, July 5th, after a five-year battle with cancer.
The CCU community deeply mourns his loss. We will miss his leadership, his guidance, his vision, and his friendship.
Bill Armstrong became president of CCU in August of 2006. During his tenure, the school has reached records in enrollment while also raising incoming ACT scores. President Armstrong also spearheaded the current campus redevelopment campaign. His impact on the university will be felt for generations.
The former senator was at the helm of CCU as the American Council of Trustees and Alumni repeatedly ranked the school in the top two percent of colleges nationally for its core curriculum.
Bill Armstrong was a long-time Colorado businessman who joined the university after owning and operating more than a dozen private companies. He served as director of six public companies and was chairman of the Denver-based Oppenheimer Funds. He also served in the Colorado State House of Representatives (1963-1964), the Colorado Senate (1965-1972), U.S. House of Representatives (1973-1978), and U.S. Senate (1979-1990).
President Armstrong was on the board of Christian Businessmen’s Committee USA and Campus Crusade for Christ. He is survived by his wife, Ellen, who served as an elder of Cherry Hills Community Church, Highlands Ranch, and as a trustee of Colorado Christian University. Bill and Ellen Armstrong were married for nearly 54 years and have two children, eight grandchildren, and four granddaughters-in-law.
The Colorado Christian University community mourns his death, but we also celebrate his life, his love of Jesus, and the legacy he has left for this university. We thank God for bringing to CCU a man of godly character, whose tenure was marked by great accomplishments and an overarching commitment to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Bill’s passing is a great loss not only for our university, but also for our country. Colorado Christian University has established a website to honor the life and legacy of President Bill Armstrong: www.ccu.edu/billarmstrong. You are invited to leave a note for the family; information regarding gifts in his memory can also be found on the website.
The funeral service will be held at Cherry Hills Community Church (3900 Grace Blvd in Highlands Ranch) on Friday, July 15th, at 10:30am. Visitation will be held in the Chapel at Cherry Hills Community Church on Thursday, July 14th, from 5:30 – 7:30pm.
Sincerely,
Gary Armstrong
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Voted for Bill. He did a good job as my Senator.