Who Was J.R. Arnold of Panama City Beach?

From the February 12, 2018, Panama City (Fla.) News Herald.  "Canadian Queries."

A vacationing Canadian wanted to know why there was a J.R. Arnold High School and street in Panama City Beach.

The correspondent found that Mr. Arnold was one of the people behind making Panama City Beach the vacation area it is today.  It was his vision and financial backing that led to all of this.  He saw the area as one for tourism and business.

He built the first motel in Bay County, the Palmetto Court Motel in 1948 and loaned money to other new beach businesses when banks wouldn't help them.  President and chair of the Beach State Bank, started the Small Business Assistance Corporation, president of the Beach's Chamber of Commerce and involved in many other pro PCB organizations.

Death came to him on St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 1995.

Quite A Man.  --CootPCB