John Arnold:  

After high school, I went to Wichita State to major in music education, wanting to become a band director. After a year of nearly nothing but music I realized that wasn't for me and WSU was too expensive. I transferred to KU in liberal arts, majored finally in Personnel Admin, which had a six weeks internship requirement. I did it in Atchison city government and that intro'd me to my future career as a city manager: after six weeks the city manager said I had done well, he wanted me to stay on for another month, he'd double my salary, and he was going on vacation and I was acting city manager. Later that year I went to the Peace Corps, serving the normal two-year tour in the Philippines. There I met the woman who would become my wife, Kaye. I then went back to KU for a masters of public admin in city management. Then I went successively to Texarkana, TX, Titusville, FL, Little Rock, AR each as assistant city manager over 7 years. Then to Minot, ND as city manager, for 5 years. Then Fort Collins, CO. as c.m. for 8 years. Then started and directed the E-470 Highway Authority in Denver for 6 years. Then Eureka, CA as c.m. for 5 years. Then to Topeka as Chief Admin Officer for 4 years, retiring in 2002 to consult, speak, and write. Along the way Kaye and I had two sons, Jay in Florida and L.T. in North Dakota. Both are living in the Seattle area and doing well with jobs and families. I have six granddaughters, from 5 to 13. Kaye and I were married 42 years when she died suddenly from colon cancer s...Expand for more