Meet Raymond Armstrong | Founder, Exterior Visions

We had the good fortune of connecting with Raymond Armstrong and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Raymond, what principle do you value most?
Sustainability

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My life, all 78 years to date, has been a remarkably journey filled with an abundance of accomplishments, yet only recently have I become conscious of how so easily they have all flowed together with a single purpose.

The journey stared when I received a football / track scholarship to UCLA. Remarkably at 160 lbs. I made it through 4 years of major league football without any major injury. Even more remarkable I was selected first team academic all American, and 1966 UCLA athlete of the year.

Next I received an NCAA scholarship to UCLA Dental school where I graduated top of my class and received another scholarship for an internship at a Denver hospital. Because of my notoriety from football I was offered a way to set up my own solo dental practice in Colorado Springs. While beginning my dental career I came into possession of a remarkable two acres of Colorado Springs, which is really where my story begins.

I had become an accomplished skier, climbed all the Colorado 14ers, did the Colorado Springs triple crown 6 times including the Pikes Peak assent, elected president of the local Dental Society and served on the State Council of Peer Review, all the while developing this remarkable piece of property. Over 45 years later, it has become an example of renewable energy, sustainability and growing food while conserving water as in an aquaponic greenhouse. We are presently funding the latter through grants and fundraising. I may not complete my vision in my lifetime so a Trust is being set up to complete what I cannot and to continue projects which will benefit the community and beyond.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Pulpit Rock Park

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Sunpeakscenterforartandsustainability.org

Website: Exterior-Visions.com, Sunpeaksartandsustainability.org

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Image Credits
MARNE ADLER