Harry Armstrong, trailblazing Clovis councilman and community leader, dead at 87

Harry Armstrong, who spent nearly half of a century serving the Clovis City Council and was among California’s longest-serving city council members, died Thursday.

He’d been battling illness stemming from pneumonia for much of the past four years and died at 87.

Mr. Armstrong left his mark on virtually every facet of Clovis – perhaps most notably leading the efforts to build highways 168 and 180 – while serving as a councilman from 1970-2016.

Mr. Armstrong also had a strong impact on the building of Clovis Community Medical Center, Old Town Clovis, Highway 168, the city’s Research and Technology Park and Clovis Police and Fire Departments’ headquarters, Councilman Jose Flores told The Bee in 2016.

“Harry served the citizens for many years,” Clovis Mayor Tem Drew Bessinger said when contacted late Thursday. Bessinger replaced Mr. Armstrong in March. “He was involved in the tapestry of every part of Clovis.

“It’s sad to hear of his passing. He will be a difficult person to replace.”

Mr. Armstrong’s son, Thomas, said his parents left behind a proud legacy. His mother, Jeanine Armstrong, died in 2007.

“They were a strong team,” Armstrong said. “They valued the community they lived in. And together they strived to make Clovis the best home for their family and the families of others.”

Clovis Mayor Bob Whalen was out of the country and could not be reached for comment.

Mr. Armstrong had been re-elected in 2015 for his 12th four-year term before he resigned in September 2016 because of his health.

Mr. Armstrong had such an impact on life in Clovis, the new Clovis Transit Center at Third Street and Clovis Avenue was named in his honor.

He was inducted into the Clovis Hall of Fame in 2010 and named the grand marshal of the Clovis Rodeo in 2015.

“Harry has given more to the city than the city can ever repay him,” former Clovis Mayor Nathan Magsig said prior to Mr. Armstrong’s resignation in 2016. “He put principles before politics; he is a true statesman, an icon.

“When you think about what local government service is about, you would see a picture of Harry Armstrong.”

Mr. Armstrong served on the California League of Cities board for more than 27 years, most notably as president from 1982-1983, and served on the league’s Transportation, Communication and Public Works Policy Committee.

Transportation and water were his passions.

He served as chairman of the Fresno County Transportation Authority for 22 years, as chairman of the Fresno County Water Advisory Board for 13 years and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies for 21 years.

Mr. Armstrong received numerous awards, including the Rose Ann Vuich Ethical Leadership Award, League of California Cities’ Award for Service and Contributions to the Board of Directors and the 2015 Fresno Council of Governments Regional Forum – Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence, Leadership & Commitment.

But it wasn’t just big projects Mr. Armstrong helped with.

Bessinger recalled hearing a story of Mr. Armstrong helping a couple who lived near Armstrong and Alluvial avenues whose water main was broken by a contractor.

The couple reached out to Mr. Armstrong, who then made a few calls and had the city put in a temporary water main for them.

“In essences, that’s what we’re here for,” Bessinger said. “He knew exactly who to call and how to get things done.”

Funeral arrangements were pending.

Staff writer Robert Rodriguez contributed to this report.

This story was originally published January 18, 2018 at 11:01 PM with the headline "Harry Armstrong, trailblazing Clovis councilman and community leader, dead at 87."