TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
Major R. Armstead, Ed.D. 1938–2022 Chicago Educational Administrator By Aaron Williams
and administrator training designed to improve student performance. Chicago State University, DePaul University, Chicago Consortium of Colleges and Universities, Roosevelt University, Governors State University, and Harvard University are among the schools where Armstead served as a faculty member. A Life Member of the Fraternity, Armstead held numerous positions in his six decades as a Chicago (IL) Alumni Chapter member, including leading the chapter as its 43 rd Polemarch [1998-2000]. For many years, Armstead chaired the chapter’s scholarship com- mittee. In addition, Armstead was the immediate past president of the Edward G. Irvin Foundation, Inc, a 501(c)3 and the philanthropic arm of the Chicago (IL) Alumni. Armstead was a board member of the Matteson (IL) Elementary School District 162 Board of Education, Junior Achievement board member [Chicago, IL and Racine, WI], chairman for the Leadership Volunteer Council at Chi- cago State University, and consultant to the White House Conference on Secondary School. He was a longtime member of the New Faith Baptist Church, including chairman of its Edu- cation Pathways Ministry. The numerous honors and achieve- ments bestowed to Armstead include the 2009 recipient of the Outstand- ing Achievement in Public Service from Chicago State University; Urban League Education Award, Kenosha/Re- cine, WI [1992]; Educator of the Year [1981-1982], Phi Delta Kappa, Chicago Chapter; Most Distinguished Man of Illinois from the Continuing Academic Training Children and Youth Services, Inc. [2017]; Most Distinguished Alumni
Award of North Central Province [1999] and the Edward G. Irvin Foundation, Inc. Award [2009]. Armstead appeared on the cover of the Winter 2017 Kappa Alpha Psi Journal, which featured a centennial article on his chapter of initiation, the Iota of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Brother Major Armstead, Jr. is sur- vived by his wife of over 30 years Sharon Cruse Armstead; daughters Annyce and Alison, mother of his daughters, Judith Armstead; grandchildren Amanda Story, Demery Major Armstead McLaughlin, Ricky E.K. Smalling, Cerena Hudson, and Thomas Boyd, Jr.; great-grand- children Adjua Beck El, Zaria Story, and Emery McLaughlin; stepchildren Celeste Boyd, Charmaine Boyd, and Thomas Boyd, Sr.; brother-in-law Paul Cruse, Jr. and a host of relatives, friends, colleagues, former students, and frater- nity brothers. On February 25, 2022, the Illinois General Assembly in Springfield, IL, read a resolution honoring him.
L ongtime Chicago (IL) Alumni member Major Armstead, Jr. (Iota 1959) entered the Chapter Invisible on Febru- ary 18, 2022. An only child, Armstead was born on December 26, 1938, in Chicago, IL, to Major Sr. and Amanda Armstead. After graduating from Chi- cago’s DuSable High School in 1956, Armstead earned a B.A. degree in 1961 from Chicago Teachers College (now Chicago State University). He later earned a master of science degree in education in 1965 from Illinois Teacher College and a doctorate in education from Nova University in 1976. Armstead began a long career in professional education and in the Chi- cago Public Schools (CPS) System in 1961 at Beale Elementary School. In 1971, CPS appointed him the principal of Chalmers Elementary School. One year later, he was named principal of Hess Upper-Grade Center before join- ing Foreman High School as principal in 1977. From 1982-1988, Armstead directed the basic skills improvement programs for 75 area high schools, serv- ing first as Executive Direct of the CPS High School Renaissance Program and later as Director of Program Planning and Development for the CPS Office of Field Superintendent-High Schools. Armstead was CPS District 4 Su- perintendent from 1999 to 1992 before moving to Racine, WI to lead its school district for five years before retiring in 1997. He returned to his native Chicago, where he consulted for school districts. In 1992, he founded Winning Wellness, LLP, which provided educa- tional advice, specifically around teacher
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