The Arnold Effect

Truman Arnold never got sidetracked with personal interest related to growing a better Texarkana. He was a competitor and loved to win, but he knew we would win our share if we could retain and grow our business community. He had the innate ability to make the state line an opportunity, not a barrier, strongly encouraging the positives of being a border city. He provided the leadership to make the Chamber of Commerce a bipartisan organization and a central agency to privately air business matters—good or bad—to build consensus and execute what was best for Texarkana, USA." —Joe Nichols, State Bank Chairman and CEO, protégé of Truman Arnold

On the evening of January 25, 2025, Northridge Country Club was abuzz with a special kind of energy. Over 350 residents from Texarkana and the surrounding area gathered in the ballroom to attend the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Celebration and to welcome home one of Texarkana’s favorite sons, businessman and entrepreneur, Truman Arnold, and his wife, Anita. A stunning couple, the two were surrounded by family members and associates as they modestly entered the venue. They quickly settled into their seats, greeted by countless familiar faces and lifelong friends. A renewed affection for home seemed to surround the family, and the room reflected all things Texarkana.

The Arnolds sat back and observed as a host of chamber awards were presented. Their favorite local singer, Danny Maxey, accompanied by Perry Steitler and Pete Jones, sang a few songs to celebrate a shared love for their hometown, Texarkana, USA.

As Arnold was introduced and approached the stage for the portion of the evening billed as a “fireside chat,” members of the crowd rose to their feet in celebration of this family, whose contributions shaped and molded us into the city we are today. With his quick wit and sense of humor still intact, Arnold said the reason he came back home to speak after all these years and the reason he drew such a crowd were one and the same. The explanation was simple—“There ain’t no football tonight,” he said. This response drew both laughter and applause from the audience. As he spoke and responded to questions for more than 30 minutes, the pattern of laughter and applause continued.

With a somewhat emotional response, Arnold elaborated, “Within five miles of where we sit, everything my family and I accomplished is centered right here. We built five or six major businesses, all generated with ingenuity, spirit, and workmanship from this community. We had the capital and intelligence to do it. Our leaders, lawyers, bankers, and accountants were right here. Ben Sandefur was the only banker my family ever used for 30 years. We had the attitude and the work ethic to make anything work.”

Reminding the audience of the “elephant in the room,” Arnold explained, “State Line is always there, and sometimes our efforts get fractured and split. We have to learn to live with it and celebrate it. We did that in the 70s. We transformed State Line and overcame it by making it invisible. There was a time when inflation was 20% and interest rates were 20%. Gas was $2.50 a gallon in 1979, and lines were two blocks long at the service stations. When we came out of that, changes had to be made.”

Arnold reminisced that Dr. Carl “Cheesie” Nelson was the Chairman of the Chamber Board and past Chamber Chair Dean Barry asked Truman to be the Chair-Elect. One of the first orders of business was to replace the retiring president and CEO of the Chamber. Swede Lee’s name quickly rose to the top, and he was the only candidate the Board interviewed. Subsequently, the glory days of chamber leadership under Swede Lee and Linda Crawford emerged. “The rest of us just got out of the way.”

During this era, the state line was bridged. “All of a sudden, we didn’t really care about our differences. For 20 years, this continued,” he said. “There was a oneness. The Chamber was the genesis and the heartbeat of what happened in Texarkana, politically and otherwise. Red River Army Depot (RRAD) set us apart. It transformed Texarkana. Everything happening today is a ripple effect of RRAD. It was a time when we could draw 500-600 people to the post office, and Linda Crawford and Swede Lee navigated having two governors from two states in our city simultaneously. Senator David Pryor was from Arkansas, which didn’t matter to the Texans. He was our senator—He was Texarkana’s senator. There was oneness and unity, and things seemed to progress.”

As he spoke fondly of the thrill of business, industry, and progress in Texarkana, Arnold took a moment to reflect on his childhood and those who influenced him through the years. The son of a sharecropper, he first attended Sacred Heart School, later becoming a student at Pleasant Grove, Nash, and Texas High. Boasting a great life, free from issues like drug abuse that plague society today, and enjoying simple pleasures, a little mischief, and a lot of fun, Truman Arnold treasured his growing-up years. His favorite memories included softball trips, a chimp named Maggie, and the timeless tradition of Arkansas versus Texas football games. Not taking his humble beginnings lightly, he states, “Thank you, Texarkana College. My whole family, wife, and kids went to Texarkana College. Getting a walk-on scholarship to Texarkana College meant as much to me as Archie Manning’s $3 million scholarship means today. I transferred to Lamar University and came back to Texarkana in 1964. I started my first business with $3,000. That business evolved into Road Runner and eventually all my other businesses.”

During the fireside chat, Dr. James Henry Russell, seated on the couch near Arnold, reflected on the fact that he sits behind a desk formerly occupied by Arnold. “I think about you every day. I sit at your desk and contemplate your work ethic, which makes me work harder. When I worked at Texarkana College (TC) and gazed at the Truman Arnold Student Center, I knew I couldn’t disappoint you because you are my mentor.” Russell asked Arnold to reflect on his mentors and those who helped him along the way. “One of the reasons I am committed to education is because educators influenced me,” explained Arnold. “I had an English professor, C.O. Pinkerton, at TC who took an interest in me and tremendously influenced me. He was a favorite professor to so many in Texarkana, including Ross Perot. Watty Myers, my football coach at Texas High, instilled discipline and toughness in his players. He was a teacher and a leader.”

During one of the more memorable moments of the evening, Arnold stated, “As you become older, you become the mentor, and you realize that sometimes those you are mentoring mean more to you than you mean to them. Mentoring is contagious. If you’ve been mentored, you want to do it for others. You appreciate and admire people and see their talent.”

Arnold’s current team would agree wholeheartedly. Deidra Reeves, one of the trusted members of the Arnold family business, said about working with Arnold, “It is an absolute honor to work alongside Truman Arnold. His comments at the Annual Celebration expressed how the community built him into the man he is today. He is still very proud of this town, and it reminded me of how special this place is, that I call home.” Kevin Norman, a trusted friend and colleague of the Arnold family, reinforced Reeve’s sentiments. “When I started working for Truman, I never imagined the impact he would have on my life. And I can say without hesitation that his impact on the Texarkana community is the same—immeasurable and everlasting. I am honored to have him as my boss, but even more as my friend.”

Many people commented throughout the night regarding their kids and grown children in the audience witnessing history in the making. One such audience member, Adyson Mayo, a fifth-generation Texarkana resident, summed up the evening by saying, “I really enjoyed hearing Mr. Arnold speak about starting his business right here in Texarkana right about the same time my great-grandfather started Mayo Manufacturing. It’s easy to see the impact that generation made on Texarkana. I know they made a huge difference in my dad’s life and how he gives back to Texarkana.”

Madeleine Russell, a sixth-generation Texarkanian and Coordinator of Communication and Engagement at Texarkana College says, “My favorite moment of the evening was hearing Mr. Arnold share how much Texarkana means to him. To see him become emotional as he looked over at his family seated by the stage, I couldn’t help but reflect on the generations of families that have been blessed by this community.”

Truman Arnold is undoubtedly a friend to Texarkana and its residents. Those fortunate enough to be in the room to hear his powerful reflections on his life and how our hometown shaped him were forever changed. At the end of it all, he challenged us to celebrate our oneness and unity once again. “I think you still have it,” he declared. “Figure out what will disrupt this community. The price is right for homes, and the cost of living is half what it is in Dallas. Keep that glue and decide who you want to be. Love your community. Thank you for remembering us. We will always remember you.”

A LIFE WELL BUILT

Truman Arnold didn’t just succeed—he changed the game.” —Dr. Robin Hickerson, Texarkana Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO & President

Otis Truman Arnold was born September 23, 1937, in Texarkana, Arkansas, to Otis Mansfield Arnold and Ethel Pinkerton Prince. His childhood was marked by hardship, perseverance, and deep family ties. Truman’s mother battled cancer for over a decade, and without modern treatments like chemotherapy, she endured years of radiation and extended hospital stays at St. Michael’s Hospital. Despite their financial limitations, the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word ensured all hospital costs were covered, a kindness that Truman never forgot.

His grandmother, Mary Emma Pinkerton, played a significant role in raising him, especially after his mother’s passing in 1951. Truman’s early years in Nash, Texas, were filled with hard work, and by the time he was 13, he had secured his first job pumping gas and bagging groceries at Shipp’s Grocery. From the start, he was a self-made man—never afraid of long hours or getting his hands dirty.

Truman graduated from Texas High School in 1955 and earned a football scholarship to Texarkana College before transferring to Lamar University. After earning his business degree, he started working for Continental Oil Company (Conoco), quickly proving himself an ambitious, smart, and driven young executive.

However, the corporate world couldn’t contain his entrepreneurial spirit. In 1964, he made a bold decision to leave Conoco and buy a failing Conoco distributorship in Texarkana with a mix of small personal savings and a bank loan. The venture included purchasing a 1948 Ford truck with a 1,000-gallon tank, a 1960s Model 1 Chevrolet pickup, an Underwood typewriter, and a Sun Strand 10-key adding machine—humble beginnings for what would later become a billion-dollar empire.

Truman never took the easy path. He saw opportunities where others saw obstacles. In the late 1960s, when self-service gas stations were considered a risky and unproven idea, he convinced Conoco to let him test one. The gamble paid off, and by the 1970s, he had built a network of Road Runner convenience stores, becoming one of the first people in the U.S. to brand and operate self-service fuel stations successfully.

While Truman was an astute businessman, those who knew him best knew he was a man of strong convictions, sharp wit, and a deep love for his family. Truman had an exceptional eye for talent, always surrounding himself with the smartest people in the room and giving them the freedom to find their own way. He didn’t micromanage. He built teams, trusting his employees to rise to the occasion. Despite his success, he never lost sight of the value of hard work. Having spent his early years pumping gas in the Texas heat, he carried that experience with him, treating every employee with the same respect, no matter their role.

Truman’s sharp sense of humor and love for storytelling make him a natural at captivating any audience, whether in a boardroom or a casual gathering. His quick wit and well-timed one-liners always bring laughter. Beneath his business instinct, he has always been deeply sentimental, never straying far from his Texarkana roots. He has been known to buy back old childhood properties, not for investment, but simply because they hold meaning for him.

Truman met Anita Ray Arnold, the woman who would become his most trusted confidante and partner in life. The two were married in 1987, building a beautiful blended family. Anita also has a keen business mind. Her influence played a key role in their banking ventures and philanthropy.

Together, this power couple has leveraged their success to make a lasting impact on both politics and philanthropy. Their business ventures extended into banking, where they were major shareholders in State First National Bank that sold to Regions Bank, in 1995 they purchased First National Bank of New Boston, which later became Century Bank. They expanded it into a thriving regional institution before selling it to Wells Fargo. In addition to their business achievements, they have been deeply engaged in national organizations.

Truman has always been deeply proud of his children, Tony, Renee, Greg, and Stephanie. The tragic loss of his son, Tony, in 1990 was one of the hardest moments of his life. Among his countless contributions, Tony had played a key role in expanding the Road Runner stores, including the introduction of their fried chicken, cinnamon rolls, and famous biscuits. Fueled by the success in biscuit sales, Truman purchased his first jet and cleverly named it “The Golden Biscuit.”

In 2016, Truman decided it was time to step back, passing ownership of Truman Arnold Companies (TAC) to his son, Greg Arnold. This transition ensured the business remained in the family and in good hands. By 2022, TAC Air had sold all 17 of its fixed-base operations, marking a new chapter in the company’s evolution. Meanwhile, TAC Energy remains a $5 billion-a-year company, still carrying forward its legacy.

Truman Arnold’s life has been defined by bold moves, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to his values. He has built a business empire from scratch, transforming the gas and energy industry and shaping Texarkana’s economic landscape. But beyond the numbers and corporate deals, he remains a storyteller, a risk-taker, a family man, and a loyal friend.

His ability to see opportunities where others see roadblocks makes him great. His legacy, built with Anita by his side, will not just be measured in business success but in the people he has mentored, the lives he has touched, and the community he helped build.