Tobin Armstrong, 82; Texas Cattleman Was Friend to Political Elites

Tobin Armstrong, 82, a Texas rancher with strong political ties who served for nearly half a century as director of a leading cattle industry association, died Oct. 7 at a cancer center in Houston.

Armstrong directed the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Assn., a lobby and law enforcement group, for 48 years. In 2001, the association named him honorary vice president.

A onetime Kenedy County commissioner, Armstrong owned the 50,000-acre Armstrong Ranch near Kingsville in south Texas. His wife, Anne, is the former U.S. ambassador to Britain and advisor to presidents Nixon and Ford.

The couple regularly played host at their ranch to President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and former President George H.W. Bush. Another prominent guest, Prince Charles, once played polo on the Armstrongs’ lawn.

Armstrong, whose grandfather was a Texas Ranger who became famous for capturing the notorious outlaw John Wesley Hardin, was tutored at home until he was sent to a private school in San Antonio at age 9. He later attended the University of Texas and Texas A&M; University.