Memorial to honor life and legacy of longtime Clovis councilmember

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- For nearly 50 years Harry Armstrong served the city of Clovis as a council member or mayor.

Nearly one month after this death, the Armstrong family, community members and leader gathered to remember the man who loved the Clovis way of life.

"We want to celebrate the contribution that he has made to the City of Clovis and it has been a significant one and I am. I think all of us feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to get to know him personally as a friend," said Clovis Mayor Bob Whalen.

Thursday afternoon the Highway 168 and Herndon Avenue interchange in Clovis was officially dedicated in honor of Armstrong.

Mayor Whalen says Armstrong had a love for transportation.

"For him to be able to take that knowledge and be able to apply it to this region has shown I think a great benefit. People can get to point A to point B much more quickly because of Harry that they otherwise would of without him," said Whalen.

Congressman Jim Costa pushed for the state legislature to make the memorial interchange possible.

Costa says Armstrong played a big role in getting Measure C passed by voters in the late 1980s.

"As chair of the measure c commission he was very, very thoughtful and hardworking in trying to assure that our local money was able to leverage state and federal dollars," said Costa.

The half-cent sales tax for Fresno County helped build Highways 180 and 168.