Galesburg Railroad Museum Commemorative Brick

ARNOLD AND RUTH CLAYTON -Arnold Eugene - the oldest son of Clifford O. and Eunice B. (Andrews) was born in Cameron, Illinois on December 18, 1926. He has five brothers and three sisters. They are Charles. Richard, Melvin, Bonnie, Maurine. Carl Dean, James and Madelyn. He spent his childhood in Cameron attending Cameron Grade School. He graduated from Galesburg High School with the Class, of '44. Arnold .joined the U.S. Navy in March of 1944 and was discharged in June of 1946. Arnold later , attended Browns Business College and studied business and accounting. Summers he worked on the Youngquist farms and during the school year at Strand Bakeries and Butler Manufacturing Company. After his discharge he worked as a baker at the Scandia Bakery in Galesburg. For a short time he worked as a mechanic at Burlington Truck Lines. In September of 1947, he was employed as a truck driver for Willis Steel Corporation. They were wholesale distributors of building materials, wire products, and furnaces and heating equipment. After graduation from Browns Business, College

Arnold became assistant to the sales manager at Willis Steel. Beginning in 1950 he became a territory salesman selling their products to lumber yards, hardware stores, and heating and sheet metal contractors. Early in 1955 he was given the opportunity to specialize in the sales of heating and air conditioning for residential and small commercial systems. At this time he attended the Milwaukee School of Engineering to study refrigeration and air conditioning systems. His customers were to be limited to heating. air conditioning and sheet metal contractors. In 1959 he accepted the position of manager of the warm air heating and air conditioning department at May Company in Galesburg. They were distributors of plumbing equipment and industrial supplies with a branch warehouse in Moline, Illinois. In 1968 the May Company built a new branch warehouse in Princeton. Illinois and Arnold was appointed to be its manager. In 1974 he was promoted to vice-president of marketing and was responsible for all three branch operations. In 1980 Arnold purchased the Princeton branch warehouse from the May Company. The Princeton warehouse was operated as the A/C Plumbing and Heating Supply until the beginning of 1987. Arnold was then employed by Faber Motors as rental and leasing manager. as well as used car manager. At the end of 1900, Arnold retired from Faber Motors. At the time of Arnold's retirement, he had been elected to serve on the Bureau County Board. During his term. from 1990 to 1995, he served as County Board Chairman for two years. In 1995 Arnold was elected to a four-year term as Mayor of the City of Princeton. Arnold married J. Irene Wenstrom in May of 1947. Two children were born to them: Karen S. and Barry E. In 1982 Arnold married Ruth Eckard who had two children, G. Whitney and Quinta. Ruth was employed by the LCN Division of Ingersoll-Rand Company in Princeton as an executive assistant to the president and general manager. During his years of residence in Princeton, he has been active in St. Matthews Lutheran Church. the Elks Lodge, Industrial Golf League, Princeton Business Boosters Club, Woodcrafters Club, and Senior Golf League. His past years of retirement have been devoted to his hobbies of golf, woodworking and antique cars.