Judy (Jones) Arnold

In the fall of 1959, having just completed a three-year hitch in the United States Marine Corps, James D. Arnold enrolled at Panhandle A&M College to major in agronomy. He was working at the college farm and living on campus in the summer of 1962 when he met Judy Jones, a local girl who was working in the cafeteria.

They married in December of 1963, when Judy was a freshman biology major and Jim was to graduate in May 1964.

Jim received his Master’s degree in Weed Control from South Dakota State University in 1966 and they returned to Goodwell with their two young daughters. Jim taught Agronomy at Panhandle State for seven years. During that time the Arnolds had two more children and Judy received her bachelor’s degree in accounting.

In 1973, with Jim’s G.I. benefits about to expire, the decision was made to move to Lubbock, Texas where Jim received his Ph.D. degree in range management in 1976. From there the family moved to Kingsville, Texas. Jim taught in the College of Agriculture at Texas A&I University, later Texas A&M—Kingsville, until his retirement in 1997. Judy worked at King Ranch and the local farmers’ cooperative, and following her retirement still works part time as a church secretary. Jim and Judy are members of the Panhandle State Association.

Jim’s and Judy’s four children are all married and have presented them with seven delightful grandchildren.