During the latter half of the twentieth century, Howie Armstrong was a dynamic Nanton citizen -a businessman and community leader who was responsible for many of the things that make Nanton such a unique community.

Amongst other things, Howie, and perhaps a couple of friends, decided that Nanton's spring-sourced water was the best in North America. To prove it, they put up a roadside sign that said so, and installed a tap that visitors could access to enjoy it.

As well, together with George White and Fred Garratt, Howie purchased and donated to the town the Lancaster Bomber that is now the centrepiece of the Bomber Command Museum of Canada.

Howie was also a very talented story-teller and writer. For a number of years, Howie wrote a column for the Nanton News that was loosely based on his fishing experiences. The title was derived from the book 'The Happy Hooker', the memoir of a 'call-girl' written in 1971.

The following is a a collection of forty-eight of Howie's 'Rusty Hookers'.