Distinguished Alumni Award

Former board member and church leader receives Distinguished Alumni Award

The Rev. Dr. Gary Armstrong 1970 accepts the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award during the college’s senior celebration dinner, which was held in May.

The Rev. Dr. Gary Armstrong 1970 received the 2011 Distinguished Alumni Award during the college’s senior celebration dinner, which was held in May. President John Reynders presented the alumni award and cited Armstrong for his unselfish service to Morningside College, the United Methodist Church, his congregations and the communities in which he has lived. Armstrong served on the Morningside College Board of Directors from 1994 to 2008. Reynders said he “played a key role in reshaping and rebuilding Morningside into the exciting and thriving institution that it is today.” An ordained United Methodist Church minister, Armstrong served as pastor for congregations in several Iowa communities: BusseyHarvey-Tracy, St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Council Bluffs, Slater-Sheldahl, Dike, St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Cherokee, First United Methodist Church in Ottumwa and First United Methodist Church in Indianola. He also held a leadership role as district superintendent for the Fort Dodge District of the Iowa Conference, and he served on numerous Iowa Conference task forces, boards and commissions. He retired from full-time ministry in 2009. The church was not the only beneficiary of Armstrong’s leadership skills. He also served on the boards of directors for the United Methodist Wesley Foundation Campus Ministries at the University of Northern Iowa and Iowa State University, the board of directors for Friendship Haven Retirement Home in Fort Dodge, and the board of trustees for Simpson College. He volunteered with community organizations ranging from the Red Cross to the Pottawattamie County Mental Health Commission, and served as board chair for the United Service Credit Union. A native of Montana, Armstrong enrolled at Morningside College with the intention of preparing for ministry. He and his wife, Laurel (Nagel) 1970, were married during their senior year at Morningside. Following graduation, Armstrong enrolled at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colo., and graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1974. He received a Doctor of Ministry degree with a focus in gerontology in 1985 from Saint Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Mo. He also took part in a Clinical Pastoral Education residency at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines in 1987 and 1988. Reynders said that as a board member, “Gary cared deeply and passionately about Morningside College and its students. He wasn’t the most vocal board member; however, when he did speak out, it was always with conviction and after thoughtful consideration.” Armstrong and his wife live in Clive, Iowa. They have two grown children, Andrea and Ryan 2000, and three grandchildren. About the award The Distinguished Alumni Award is given annually to a Morningsider or Morningsiders who have distinguished themselves in their profession, service to their community and/or service to Morningside College. Alumni, faculty and staff provide the nominations for this award. Then a committee of alumni and staff makes the final selection of award recipients. A few examples of past award recipients are Era Bell Thompson 1933, who was editor of Ebony magazine; William Wolle 1949, who was U.S. ambassador to the United Arab Emirates; and Paul Splittorff 1969, who was a pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.