Armstrong – Table of Contents

above all else – he cared little for a fine ‘mill,’ but he cared everything for the ‘grist.’ He
would readily approve expenditures for research necessities, but he would permit no
luxuries such as rugs, fine desks, fancy furniture, or paintings in his own or other offices.
Some smiled at these “peculiarities” but they were a natural and necessary result of his
stern sense of propriety.”
Armstrong demonstrated these same qualities during his tenure as Chief of the
Division (Laboratory) of Infectious Diseases from 1942 to 1948. He earned the respect of
his subordinates, with one possible exception (8), through his fair, impartial and skillful
management of the laboratory. The investigators had the personnel and whatever
equipment they required for their approved research projects. Notwithstanding this,
Armstrong acquired the reputation of running a frugal, efficient operation with the
Laboratory presenting an annual fiscal budgetary surplus. These usually became
conundrums for the bewildered financial administrators who did not know what to do
with the surplus funds.
Armstrong was also steadfast in his loyalty to the Public Health Service and in his
determination to continue his research efforts in his NIH laboratory on behalf of his
original intension to benefit the greater good in working for the people’s health. He
received a letter from Dr. W. H. McMaster (9), President of Mount Union College on
October 23, 1936 offering him the attractive and lucrative position as Director of
Scientific Research of the College. The offer came following Armstrong’s isolation of the
viruses of Saint Louis encephalitis and the newly discovered lymphocytic
choriomeningitis (see next chapter). Despite the description of potentially interesting
projects for study, Armstrong, in reply, declined the offer, thanked Dr. McMaster