James Edward Arnold

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James Edward (Jim) Arnold (1939-October 4, 2007) was a prominent soldier and businessman. Mr. Arnold was one of Pirelli North America’s last presidents and was also the president of Bohn Aluminum and a major consultant to Wicks (a group most famous for its ownership of the Lowe's hardware chain).

[edit] Professional career

At the age of seventeen Arnold joined the U.S. Army; he quickly rose to a position in The Green Berets (a part of the U.S. special forces) after service and training in the Army Airborne. Arnold served in The Korean War and part of The Vietnam War before leaving the army^[1]. Following his service in the army, Arnold began work as a sweeper in a General Cable factory in California. He advanced within General Cable to its presidency after managing numerous plants. When Pirelli acquired General Cable, Arnold became head of its U.S. cable company. Upon the merger of Pirelli Cable's U.S. division with its Canadian division, Arnold became President and CEO of Pirelli North America^[2], working in South Carolina, Michigan and New York. Arnold retired from his position as head of the company at the age of forty-two. During his retirement, Arnold became head of Bohn Aluminum and oversaw its sale. After the conclusion of this sale, Arnold acquired and headed a number of companies (including paint and pesticide companies) as he became interested in various businesses. Mr. Arnold also worked during his official retirement as a consultant to the Wicks Group, owner of hardware chain Lowe's. In addition Arnold headed the short-lived DDM food company (a shelf-stable foods producer), of South Carolina.

[edit] Personal life

Shortly after his birth, Arnold's family moved to Del Rey, California, a small agricultural town in Central California, where Anna Arnold owned and operated the local drycleaner. Arnold's childhood was marked by poverty, despite his mother's ownership of the drycleaner. During the summers of his childhood, Arnold returned to Oklahoma to build houses with his father. Despite a remarkable natural intellect, Arnold was expelled from High School after knocking out the superintendent of schools for making offensive comments about Arnold's economic status. Arnold had a brother, Leon, and two sisters: Carol and Diane. After his service in the army, Arnold married Cecile Lund, a Californian college student and had two daughters with her: Jacqueline and Lesa. Following a divorce with Kross, Jim married Susan Cannon of Abbevile, South Carolina (he would remain married to her for the rest of his life). His daughter Jacqueline had two children: James Profitt and Eric Eriksen, while his daughter Lesa also had two children: Amber and Josh Gee.