TO THE CHAPTER INVISIBLE
ness Students, and in 2003 received the William P. Sexton Award from the Notre Dame Alumni Association, given to non-alumni faculty or staff whose lives exemplify the spirit of the University. In addition to his professional achieve- ments, Dr. Arnold will be remembered most for his selfless devotion to his fam- ily. Dr. Arnold was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Helen Smoot Arnold. He is survived by his daughters, Alicia Spencer and Pamela Paster, his son, Paul Arnold, his grandsons, Ben- jamin Spencer and Logan Paster, and nine great-grandchildren, Isabella, Mya, James, Corey, Mary, Emma, Alyssa, Adam, and Philip.
tions for meritorious service.
Dr. Arnold taught at Notre Dame for 30 years. Dr. Adam S. Arnold Jr. passed into the Chapter Invisible on April 14, 2017. Dr. Arnold was a 1940 initiate of the Tau of Kappa Alpha Psi ® at West Virginia State College (now University) Chapter, University of Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., extended his condolences to the family and friends of Dr. Arnold, associate profes- sor emeritus of finance. “After serving in the Army in World War II, Dr. Arnold came to Notre Dame in 1957 and served on our finance faculty for the next 30 years,” Father Jenkins said. “He was a pioneer who served Our Lady’s Univer- sity with distinction. Our prayers and best wishes are with his family.” Dr. Arnold was born on April 28, 1922, in Danville, Kentucky, and spent much of his youth in Lexington, Kentucky. He was the son of Adam S. Arnold, Sr. and Alice Hambleton Arnold. He attended West Virginia State College where he met his wife, Helen. Upon graduation from college, Dr. Arnold was drafted into the United States Army. Dr. Arnold’s military experience during World War II included campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, Germany, Central Eu- rope, and the South Pacific. Dr. Arnold left the Army at the rank of Staff Ser- geant and enrolled in the University of Wisconsin where he received a Master’s of Business Administration and a PhD in Philosophy. Dr. Arnold was a scholar and educator who served as a professor and chairman of the Business Department at Fisk University and Tennessee State University in Nashville, Tennessee. He was also a professor of Business Admin- istration at Prairie View A&M University (Texas) and the University of Wisconsin, and was adjunct professor at Hampton Institute and The College of William and Mary. Throughout his life, Dr. Arnold received many distinguished awards and authored several books and publications. He served, while at Notre Dame, as the fac- ulty advisor to the League of Black Busi-
In retirement, Brother Allen became a community activist with Organizing for America (later called Organizing for Action (OFA)). He was proud serve in various grassroots organizational roles mobilizing voters within Mecklenburg County to deliver the votes for the election of Senator Barack Obama to President of the United States. In 2012, he worked as a Field Organizer for the re-election of President Obama. Brother Allen’s grassroots organizational acumen was a contributing factor to the successful re-election campaign for Mayor Anthony Foxx, who later became U.S. Secretary of Transportation. He was equally honored to have served as a substitute teacher in the Charlotte Mecklenburg School District. During his years of public service, Brother Allen was honored to have met the President, the First Lady, numerous White House Officials and Cabinet members, and North Carolina political figures. Brother Allen is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Kenneth “Kenny” M. Allen, niece Leslie Elizabeth Allen, and beloved cousin Phyllis King Dun- ham and many others who mightily walked before him. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Francesca Marsan Winslow Allen of Seattle Washington, two daughters Nicole Denise Allen and Camille Marsan Allen Hannans, son-in-law Jahmar Kelsey Hannans, and grandson Joshua Jedi Allen Hannans.
Dr. Donald R. Benning 1936–2017
Educator, Na- tional Champion Wrestling Coach, Omaha Icon “He was fearless,’’ son Damon Ben- ning said of his fa- ther, Dr. Donald R. Benning. “He had laser-sharp focus.
The worse the conditions, the better he was. He was so others-centered. So un- selfish and would do anything anybody asked of him. It was so strange because he was such a man of principle. He had this way of having conviction but being so unselfish. That’s a rare combination. Usually one is at the expense of the other.” Curlee Alexander, retired Omaha North High School wrestling coach said of Benning “He made my life. If it hadn’t been for him, I wouldn’t have graduated from college.” A life-long Omaha, Ne- braska resident, Dr. Benning’s life was characterized as “first” in many areas. He was the first African American: • Head coach in a major team sport at a predominantly white university in the United States; • Head wrestling coach to lead a team to a national championship.
Dr. Adam S. Arnold Jr.
1922–2017 First African American faculty member at Univer- sity of Notre Dame When he was hired in 1957 as profes- sor of finance at
University of Notre Dame, Dr. Adam S. Arnold Jr. became Notre Dame’s first African-American faculty member and the first to earn tenure at the University.
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