Armond's name is still revered along the Gulf Coast by anyone who saw him run on the Speedway Inc. Supermodified circuit during the mid-late '60s. I was fortunate enough to see him race at Five Flags and Mobile Speedways while stationed here  in Pensacola with the Navy. Not only was he very successful here but in the northeast and Ohio. He won in midgets with the ARDC & NEMA, Supermodifieds, Modifieds, and Late Models.

    I am aware of some of his major victories such as the Fiesta of Five Flags 200 (Pensacola) which was a major Supermodified event and forerunner to the World 300 at Mobile. He also won a 100 lapper at Fulton Speedway (NY) in a supermodified and the Thompson Speedway Icebreaker in a midget. He ran NASCAR Grand Nationals and participated in two Little 500s. He drove for famous car owners New Englander Skip Matczak and Alabama's Bill Hite. It was in Hite's rear-engined car that he claimed a track championship at Lorain County Speedway (OH) where I understand they once docked him a lap and he won anyway. He was also a regular at Sandusky and Oswego.

    Armond passed away last Wednesday after a long illness. He died in his sleep and I believe he was in Longwood, LA where he lived the last time I talked to him. A memorial service was held in Columbus, MS where he was raised. His son, Armond Jr. lives in Michigan and races IMCA-type modifieds.

    During last night's races at Five Flags Speedway, the flag was flown at half-mast in his memory and that of track owner Tom Dawson.

    I never met Armond face to face but talked to him a couple of times trying to get him to attend "legends" reunions. I'm saddened by his death and by those of Tom Dawson, Gene Tapia, and Don Townsend which have all occurred recently. They were legends all and will be sorely missed.