Phil’s retirement from education led him to his next venture in public service when he was appointed to the Whitehall Board of Commissioners. He moved quickly to bring civility and common sense to the board and was elected by his peers to be board president.
His leadership produced a reduction in the local garbage tax, and held the line on all other forms of taxation in Whitehall. The township has a capital plan to replace needed emergency services equipment and a fully funded police pension system. Armstrong remains an active member of his community. He serves on the Board of Directors for the Whitehall Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of the Whitehall Lion’s Club. Phil continues to reside in Whitehall Township, with his wife, Annette. He has five grandchildren - Jake, Elizabeth, Ava, Olivia and Savanna. His children have inherited both his hard work and desire to make a difference. Phil’s daughter, Katie, is a Penn State graduate with an MBA from Saint Joseph’s University, currently working as a technology department manager at Vanguard Corporation she also teaches online courses at two local colleges. His daughter, Jessica, graduated from Bloomsburg University, and together with her husband, Jake, founded the successful company, Mathway. His son Phillips Jr. attended Temple and Colorado State. He now owns three restaurants in Colorado and is a competitive skier, ranked fifth in the master’s division internationally.