July 06, 2016 12:44 PM UTC

Former Sen. Bill Armstrong Dies

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE #2: The Colorado Statesman’s Ernest Luning:

“Bill Armstrong’s election to the Senate in 1978 is one of the watershed elections of the Colorado Republican Party,” [Dick] Wadhams says. “Four years before that, Watergate had emasculated the party, wiping out an entire generation of leaders. You can trace the elections of Hank Brown, Wayne Allard, Bill Owens and others to that election. Look at all the things that emanated from that ’78 campaign. It really created — in many ways, it defined the Republican Party for the next 30 years.”

It’s a sentiment that’s widely shared in Colorado.

“The impact that Sen. Armstrong has had on Colorado politics and this state is nothing short of remarkable,” says Ryan Call, a former successor to Wadhams as chair of the state Republican Party.

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UPDATE: Statement from Sen. Cory Gardner:

“Our nation lost a great public servant, whose mark on Colorado and this country embodies the virtues of liberty, faith, and family. His booming voice, piercing gaze, and love of fellow patriots will never be forgotten. So many people in Colorado were brought to conservative ideas and optimism through Senator Armstrong. The United States is a better place because of his grace, humility and boundless spirit.”

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A reader noted last week that former U.S. Sen. Bill Armstrong of Colorado was gravely ill. Today, Colorado Christian University announced that Sen. Armstrong has died after battling bladder cancer.

William L. (Bill) Armstrong, president of Colorado Christian University, passed away on Tuesday, July 5, 2016 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 79.

Bill Armstrong served as president of CCU from 2006 to 2016. He displayed an uncommon vision for our times by adopting the University’s Strategic Objectives at the beginning of his presidency, and went on to lead the University during a period of unprecedented growth. He called his work at CCU “the most significant, energizing, and rewarding work I have ever undertaken.”

But beyond his achievements, Bill’s true legacy was his focus on Jesus and his enthusiasm for Colorado Christian University and all who are a part of it. The CCU community mourns his passing. We will miss his leadership, his guidance, his vision, and his friendship. But we also celebrate his life, his love of Jesus, and the impact he made on our University.

Last year, the staunchly conservative Sen. Armstrong spoke out strongly against now-presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump–words that take on greater meaning after Trump appeared last weekend at CCU’s Western Conservative Summit:

“I just don’t think Donald Trump is temperamentally suited to be president,” the former Colorado congressman and U.S. senator told The Colorado Independent in an interview.

“I think after all the things he has said in the campaign to date it would be very, very difficult for him to unite the country,” Armstrong said. “He’s a divisive, polarizing personality.”

Armstrong, who was once chairman of the U.S. Senate’s Republican Policy Committee, predicts cooler heads will prevail, and The Donald will not become the eventual nominee of his party.

“My hunch is that as people draw closer to the actual moment at which they will be casting a vote in a primary election, they’re not going to vote for him,” Armstrong told The Independent. “I could be wrong about that.”

Funeral services are set for Friday in Highlands Ranch. Whether or not you agreed with Sen. Armstrong’s politics, his long record of service to the state of Colorado is commendable. Those who knew Armstrong on both sides of the aisle have spoken of his great civility and decency. Republicans remember him as a major ideological architect of today’s conservative movement.

We’ll update with statements and coverage as it comes in.