Armstrong – Table of Contents

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Chapter 11. Final Years and Legacy............................................................................


For many years following the cessation of Armstrong’s position as Chief of the
Division of Infectious Diseases on November 1, 1948, he remained engaged with
continuing scientific investigations, with involvement in his prior association with the
National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis and other professional organizations. Until his
actual official retirement from the Public Health Service in October 1950, he continued
working in NIH Building No. 5 as Chief, Polio Unit, National Microbiological Institute,
National Institutes of Health. It was during this period that he wrote the series of
manuscripts on the seasonal relationship of the incidence of poliomyelitis, provided
guidance to Huebner’s studies on Coxsackie viruses and collaborated with MacMurray in
isolating toxoplasmosis from a patient with a cryptic fever (see previous chapters). After
official retirement, as a courtesy in recognition of his many past scientific contributions,
NIH provided him with an office and several small rooms where he could continue
working. He usually came into the laboratory every day, and on occasional weekends,
until several years before his death when failing health forced him to abandon this
routine.
He continued to carry on an active correspondence with other poliomyelitis
researchers (2, 3) and various professional institutions where he was still in demand as a
featured speaker (4). In addition, he continued to maintain close personal relationships
with his college and friends in Alliance, Ohio. On February 22, 1954 he was one of five
“favorite sons” honored by The Alliance Ohio Chamber of Commerce at their annual
banquet for “outstanding achievement.” (5) Mr. William M. Morgan, the President of the

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