TEXARKANA MAGAZINE
Truman Arnold didn’t just succeed—
he changed the game. ”
—Dr. Robin Hickerson, Texarkana Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO & President
O tis 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 A LIFE WELL BUILT
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.
14
BUSINESS & POLITICS
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs