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During World War I Armor volunteered for pilot duty with the U. S. Naval Reserve Flying Corps and was given flying tests at Stinson Flying School, San Antonio, Texas. He was later sent to Massachusetts Institute of Technology for preparatory instruction, then transferred to the Pensacola, Florida Naval Air Base where he remained until the Armistice when he returned to his automobile business.

In 1929 Armor took a refresher flying course with the Texas Air Transport Company at Houston and secured his private flying license No. 8863. That year he became Sales Manager for Curtiss-Wright Flying Service at Houston and remained in that position through 1930. While with Curtiss-Wright the firm engaged extensively in crop dusting throughout the southern cotton belt.

In 1931 Armor became Executive Vice-President, Treasurer-Director of Morrison Securities, handling investments, real estate and insurance, where he remained with this firm until 1940. From 1944 to 1953 he was Liaison Officer-Inspector-Examiner for the United States Government.

From 1954-1955 he was on the staff of Rice Institute, then from 1957 through 1958 he served in the same capacity for Jones College, Rice Institute. He did his last flying in 1941, flying an Ercoupe monoplane strictly for pleasure. He was a member of the Early Birds, Masonic Order and American Legion. Mr. Armor passed away October 3, 1972, at Laguna Hills, California, survived by his wife, one daughter and two sons. 

Flying Pioneer, Early Bird Robert J. Armor was one of the first students of the Wright Brothers flying school. While he did not make aviation his lifetime work and flew but a short time, he is nevertheless a noteworthy figure in early American aviation history.