By Margaret Hicks
Staff Writer
Phil Armstrong, 45, is a candidate for the Tulsa Board of Education, District 2. If elected, Armstrong said his goal is “…to let the District know it is time to pass the baton.”
For the past 15 years Armstrong has been living, working, and volunteering in the heart of District 2. He resides with his wife Monique, and what he calls “their blended blessing of four children,” Raven, Raielle, Philip II, and Charlton.
Armstrong, who demonstrates a love for his community, is s polygonal person, a consultant, speaker, vocalist, and businessman. Following is a list of his multifaceted career:
The Candidate
Armstrong is the son of Rev. Gene and Elaine Armstrong, of Bidwell, Ohio. As a high school sophomore, he was awarded two full-time Presidential Scholarships to attend Shenandoah College and Conservatory of Music in Winchester, Va. and Central State University in Wilberforce, Ohio. Armstrong also earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio.
The Consultant
Recently Armstrong was hired as a consultant by the Tulsa City-County Library to assist with the development of the first Starbucks licensed to be in a public library system in the United States. Armstrong has also consulted with Tulsa Public School’s administrative staff at the Service Center.
The Speaker
Armstrong took an interest in public speaking as a child. By the age of 12, Armstrong had memorized and learned to recite Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s, “I Have a Dream.” One of his most notable moments was being invited to recite the speech at age 15 directly in front of the King Memorial in Atlanta, Ga., for an annual memorial event honoring the legacy of Dr. King.
The Vocalist
Like public speaking, Armstrong took an interest in singing at an early age. He tells the story of being 14 years old in high school and being cut from the basketball team because they could not find a suit small enough to fit him. The principal asked him to sing the National Anthem before a big home game; something he had never done before. He said the principal told him to walk out to the center of the gym and not to start singing until the crowd got quiet. He said when he finished singing there was such loud applause and even the visitors came out to shake his hand. He’s been singing the National Anthem since that time – even for the Tulsa Drillers. He also sings at weddings and performs and records with the group, Seven, of which he is the founder.
The Businessman
Armstrong, as reported in the December 15 issue of The Oklahoma Eagle, as Chief Operating Officer for Subway Franchise Restaurant Development of Eastern Oklahoma, overseeing 178 Subway locations. Armstrong also assists in facilitating franchisee support, customer relations and service, on behalf of the Franchise World Headquarters in Milford, Conn.
Armstrong is also an entrepreneur. He’s purchased two Subways in Tulsa north. One at Archer and Greenwood, and the other at 1605 N. Peoria. The building was closed last August and was re-opened just days ago, with many firsts including “a digital menu, a brand-new test oven (the first in the state), and a state-of-the-art drive thru kiosk. The drive thru features a touchscreen that recalls previous orders using your phone number.
As noted above, Armstrong is someone to watch as he continues to contribute to the community in his many roles and runs for public office.
