PGER RAYMOND V. ARNOLD 1925–2011
T
HE HONORABLE Raymond V. Arnold, Past Grand Exalted Ruler of the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, who served the Order with distinction at local, state, and national levels for fifty-seven years, passed away February 15, 2011. Arnold was born September 27, 1925, the first child of Joseph Vukusich, an immigrant from Yugoslavia, and Matilda Arnold Vukusich, who came to America from Austria. The young couple passed on their fierce love of their new country and their dedicated work ethic to their son. “As immigrants to this new country,” said Arnold, when he assumed the office of Grand Ex- alted Ruler at the 1981 Grand Lodge Convention, “they believed that the
road to success is gained only by a hardworking, industrious person.” As a young man growing up in Michigan and Ohio, Arnold took on an adult’s responsibilities at the age of thirteen following his father’s death. He worked in fields and canneries to help support his family but was still able to find the time to take extra classes in high school so that he could graduate early in 1944 and enlist in the US Army Air Corps.
At the war’s end, Arnold moved to Jackson, Michigan, where he worked for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Com- pany while attending college full time. He soon met Eleanor McQuillin, who became his wife on June 15, 1946; their marriage would thrive for nearly sixty-three years. Arnold graduated with a Juris Doctorate from the Uni- versity of Michigan Law School in 1952. He joined the law firm of C. E. Bigg, eventually taking over as sole practitio- ner after Bigg’s retirement in 1960. In 1965, he formed a partnership with Felix Best, which would eventually grow into the firm of Best, Arnold, Gleeson, Best, and Schmucker. He continued to work as a partner until his retirement, after thirty-eight years of active practice, in 1990. The Jackson, Michigan, Lodge initiated Arnold as a mem- ber on June 7, 1954, and immediately appointed him chap- lain. He progressed through the chairs of office over the next five years and served as exalted ruler in 1959–1960. Following his term, he twice served as a lodge trustee and served on every lodge committee at some point over the years. He was made an honorary life member by the lodge in 1960, and served as chairman of the lodge’s Past Exalted Rulers Committee for twenty years.
The Michigan Elks Association was also quick to take advantage of Arnold’s fine legal mind and tremendous work
T H E E L K S M A G A Z I N E
ethic. He was appointed to the Michi- gan State Elks Law Committee in 1963 and after a few years became the committee’s chairman, a post he held for fifteen years. In recognition of his contribution, the Michigan Elks Asso- ciation named him an honorary past state president in 1980.
Arnold served the Grand Lodge as a
district deputy in 1970–1971 and lent his skills to the Grand Lodge Commit- tee on Judiciary from 1972 to 1980, serving as chairman from 1978 to 1980. Upon his election as Grand Exalted Ruler in 1981, he encouraged Elks to “Tell America about Elkdom,” a mes- sage that still resonates today. “In our fast-moving and changing society, it is now more important than ever before
that we allow American gentlemen who have not been touched by Elkdom the privilege of becoming Elk Brothers,” Arnold said. Following his term as Grand Exalted Ruler, Arnold con- tinued to serve the Order. He was a member of the Elks National Service Commission for twelve years, from 1982 to 1993, and served on the Grand Lodge Advisory Committee until 1997. In his later years, his battle with cancer forced him to scale back his commitments, but he continued to be one of the state sponsors for Indiana until his dying day. Beyond his commitment to the Elks, his family, and his
legal practice, he was a lifelong University of Michigan fan and an avid sportsman who enjoyed fishing, archery, horse- shoes, and golf. But it was bowling that was his true passion. Arnold joined the American Bowling Congress, the sport’s first national governing body, in 1965 and was elected vice president in 1972. He became the president of the body in 1980.
In his acceptance speech at the 1981 Grand Lodge Con- vention, Arnold said, “I am fortunate that my parents came with open arms to this melting pot of the world and blessed that they had me in the land of opportunity and freedom— the freedom to choose the direction of my life and the opportunities to use my labors to reach my goal.” The Elks are fortunate that Arnold directed his life toward the bet- terment of humanity and that much of his labor in that cause was expended in the service of the Order that he loved so well.
Arnold was predeceased by his wife, Eleanor, who died on June 6, 2009. They are survived by their son Thomas and his wife, Carol; their son Robert and his wife, Chris- tina; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
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