Armstrong – Table of Contents

and “handsome” doctors who came to work in the Laboratory (1)). I met Dr. Armstrong
shortly thereafter in his office in Building 7, The Memorial Building. He impressed me
immediately with his warm, friendly but dignified and humble personality, especially so,
since Dr. Hewitt had enlightened me about his multiple research accomplishments. After
a cordial introductory conversation, Dr. Armstrong asked me about my interests and what
I might want to do at NIH. I replied that I had no specific interests but that I wanted to
acquire some laboratory skills working with rickettsias and viruses and to see what might
develop. This answer was probably one that he found satisfactory. He suggested then that
I meet with some of the other investigators in the Laboratory.
I had very pleasant meetings with Drs. Robert Huebner, Karl Habel, Carl Larson and
Dorland Davis, all with established research reputations. I ran into a “buzz saw”
encounter with Dr. Byron J. Olson (opinionated and dogmatic) who castigated me for not
knowing what line of investigation I wanted to pursue. Fortunately, we had no further
exposure to one another, to the mutual advantage of each, during the time that I was at
NIH.
At the end of the day’s visit, Dr. Armstrong asked me with whom I should like to
work. I was torn in my decision between Drs. Huebner and Habel. The research
achievements of both men impressed me. Initially, I felt that I wanted experience
working with rickettsial organisms, but on the other hand I thought I would learn more
virology under Dr. Habel’s supervision. In view of Dr. Huebner’s recent successes with
rickettsialpox and his current activities with Q fever, I opted to begin my work with
Huebner and try to learn virological investigation on my own. Dr. Armstrong seemed
pleased, and he approved of my decision. (Huebner was one of his favorite people,