Background
Armstrong, David Love was born on August 6, 1941 in Hope, Arkansas, United States.
Armstrong, David Love was born on August 6, 1941 in Hope, Arkansas, United States.
Bachelor of Science, Murray State University, 1966. Juris Doctor, University Louisville, 1969. Postgraduate College Trial Advocacy, Harvard University, 1972.
Postgraduate, University Nevada, 1973.
He was the city's last mayor before its merger with Jefferson County to form Louisville Metro. He was raised in Madison, Indiana. He earned a J.D. from the University of Louisville school of law in 1969.
Following graduation Armstrong worked in the public and private sector, including a term as a family court judge and election as Jefferson County's Commonwealth's Attorney, the local felony prosecutor. In 1983 Armstrong was elected Attorney General of Kentucky. He ran unsuccessfully for Lieutenant Governor in 1987, losing in the Democratic primary to Brereton C. Jones.
Prior to becoming mayor, he had served as Jefferson County Judge/Executive from 1989 until 1999. The city of Louisville was merged with Jefferson County near the end of his term. Armstrong was a supporter of the ballot measure that brought about the merger.
His term had several successes, most notably his support for the revitalization of Downtown Louisville. Some of the projects he championed were expansions of the medical district, a $111 million Marriott hotel, Fourth Street Live! and Louisville Glassworks. Armstrong's term as mayor was marked by several controversies.
Several NBA teams at least considered a move to Louisville during his term, but nothing materialized. Armstrong was criticized for not exploring the possibility of a downtown arena for such a team, although Armstrong rebutted that he shouldn't have been singlehandedly expected to lure a franchise to Louisville. Perhaps his most notable controversy was the firing of Police Chief Gene Sherrard.
Sherrard, without the mayor's knowledge, had approved valor awards for two officers involved in a deadly shooting with racial overtones. The officers had been cleared of charges in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man, Desmond Rudolph. Armstrong did not run to be the first mayor of Metro Louisville, where he would have been a heavy underdog to Jerry Abramson.
In early 2007 Armstrong stated that he was considering a campaign for Governor of Kentucky, though he eventually chose not to run.
Chairman fund raising Brooklawn Home, Louisville. Chair Kentucky Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Prevention Board, since 1984. Appointed vice chair United States Attorney General Advisory Board on Missing Children, 1985.
Board directors Young Men’s Christian Association, Murray State University. Member American Association Trial Lawyers (Human Rights award 1986), Kentucky Bar Association, Kentucky Commonwealth Attorneys Association (president), National District Attorneys Association (secretary), American Bar Association.
Married Carol Burress, 1963. 1 child, Bryce Shannon.