The Loss of a Leading Lady

(Assosiated Press)

Anne Armstrong, one of the most prominent ranchers in South Texas, passed away July 30, 2008 in a Houston Hospice. Mrs. Armstrong was educated at the Foxcroft School in Middleberg, Virginia, where she was president of the student body and valedictorian, class of 1945. She received her bachelor's degree from Vassar College in 1949 and accepted an editorial position at Harper's Bazarre. Before reporting to work however, she visited her classmate, Helenita Kleberg, at her family's King Ranch where she met Tobin Armstrong, owner of an ajoining S.Texas ranch. They were married four months later. She moved to South Texas where she became a mother, respected rancher and quail hunter, but also served as an advisor to three Presidents, Ambassador to England, winner of the 1987 Presidental Medal of Honor (the country's highest civilian award), the first woman to deliver a keynote address at a Republican Natl. Convention, Co-chair of the Republican Natl. Committee, a champion of women's rights, and an avid hunter who loved her Brittany hunting dogs.

One night, my phone rang and Mrs. Armstrong introduced herself, saying she understood that I owned a top Brittany stud dog named 'Bo" that she had heard good things about. After some conversations, the arrangments were made. Beauregard De Lamont http://www.lamontbrittany.com/OurHistory.aspx?id=3
and her Brit female got together and produced what she later informed me were tremendous hunting dogs.

I only spoke to her on two or three occassions, but am proud to have had a brief contact with a truly great lady. Anne Armstrong will be missed.