The 1979 National Order of the Arrow Conference was held at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado. Kola Lodge served as the host lodge for the first time in a quarter century having previously served as host in 1954 at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. 4,351 delegates participated in the 64^th Anniversary Conference.The conference again featured training, a game-wide game along with dance, ceremony and sports competitions.  There was also the presentation of the Distinguished Service Award (DSA).

This would be Founder, E. Urner Goodman’s last Conference. He had attended every Grand Lodge Meeting, National Lodge Meeting and NOAC except for one, the 1923 Grand Lodge Meeting when he was ill. Goodman attended 29 Meetings / NOACs over a 58 year period. There is no documentation of any Arrowman attending more.

For generations of Arrowmen, they had always had the opportunity to see and hear the Founder, but at this meeting he would give his final in person challenge to close a NOAC. The fitting theme for Goodman’s final Conference was, “See the Need, Meet the Challenge".