Colin Armstrong

Born and raised in McMinnville, Oregon, Colin Armstrong saw the city mature into what it is today. He attended McMinnville High School, graduating in 1941, and received a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Linfield College. He was a U.S. Navy carrier pilot for thirty years and a Navy Meteorologist and Oceanographer. While serving in the Navy, Armstrong was the first pilot to transfer a nuclear bomb from one aircraft carrier to another. He has flown several Navy-type aircraft included in the Museum’s collection. Armstrong also served as the Yamhill County Commissioner for eight years. He became a volunteer docent almost in 2010, and he enjoys the fellowship with the other volunteers and listening to the visitor’s stories. When Armstrong is not volunteering for the Museum, he enjoys restoring Lincoln Continental convertibles from the 1960s, architectural drafting, woodworking, and construction. Armstrong and his wife, Milly Lou, live in McMinnville. They have three children; Laura Gay Welliver, Daniel, and Douglas.