Richard L. Armstrong
The name Richard Armstrong is certainly a very familiar one to anyone connected with high school athletics in Ohio. Serving as Commissioner of the Ohio High School Athletic Association since 1980, Armstrong is highly respected across the state for his leadership of high school sports.
Richard Armstrong grew up in Loudonville where he enjoyed an outstanding athletic Career for the Redbirds in baseball, basketball, and football. He received All-Ohio honors in basketball.
After completion of high school, he entered Baldwin-Wallace College in June, 1945 on a basketball scholarship. He finished one year of college before being drafted into the US Air Force. He was in the Air Force for two years and returned to Baldwin-Wallace in 1947. Armstrong participated in football and basketball at Baldwin-Wallace and was an All-Ohio center in football in his senior year. He graduated from Baldwin-Wallace in 1950 with a B.A. degree. He earned his Master’s degree in Administration and Guidance from the University of Akron in 1959. In 1982 he was inducted into the Baldwin-Wallace College Lettermen’s Hall of Fame.
Mr. Armstrong began his teaching career in 1950 at Creston, Ohio teaching in the field of social studies. He then served as head football coach and track coach at Centerburg for two years and as football coach at Crestline from 1953 to 1955. From Crestline he moved to Canton McKinley as assistant football coach and boys’ advisor. While at Canton McKinley he helped coach two state championship football teams. In 1958, he went to North Canton Hoover as guidance director and assistant track and football coach. He assumed the position of Athletic Director and Faculty Manager in 1961 and remained in that position until assuming the office of Principal in 1967. He was Principal of North Canton Hoover High School from 1967 to 1973.
Before joining the staff of the Ohio High School Athletic Association, Mr. Armstrong served as Tournament Manager of the Northeast District in sectional, district, and regional tournament in basketball, baseball and track for many years.
He is a member of Phi Delta Kappa and he and his family are members of the Worthington Methodist Church in Worthington, Ohio. His wife, Pat, also attended Baldwin-Wallace and they are the parents of three children, Susan, James, and Murray.
Nominator: Bob Donelson
Presenter: Bob Donelson
