MOUNT VERNON — Claude Wayne Arnold was born January 22, 1932, in the family home on 19th Street, in Mt. Vernon, IL, to Lela Ann (Richards) and James Claude Arnold. He is the second of four children – Doris (Coffin), older; Dean, and Deanna (Johnston) younger. The family moved a few years later just south of Bonnie where Wayne grew up attending Bonnie grade school. He became a member of the basketball team in the 6th grade sporting his “zero” numbered jersey. In the early years, like Ina and Nason, Bonnie had their own high schools. But when it became time for Wayne to attend, the schools were closing. The then principal at Sesser, Elmer Murray, negotiated with the state board of education to have students in those towns transported to Sesser – so a Red Devil Wayne became.Wayne graduated from Goode-Barren Township High School, Sesser in May, 1950. June 1st, he became employed as a clerk typist in the Trailer Division, Mt Vernon Car Manufacturing Company. He had hoped to enlist in the Air Force during the fall of 1950, however his parents were against it. In January, 1951, Wayne was more than ready to enlist, however, the Air Force was only accepting two people per week. A month later, he contacted the Navy office and found it closed. The following day the Air Force called, instructing him to be on the next train from Mt. Vernon to St. Louis. After the completion of 40 weeks of radio intercept school, Wayne was awarded Crypto Clearance to handle secret intercept information, which required the deciphering of 26 words of international Morse Code per minute. In 1952, he was transferred to Germany where he served until 1955 in the Darmstadt 2nd Radio Squadron Mobile. He received honorable discharge in March of 1955 with the rank of Staff Sargent, having earned three medals of honor. Right about now is when he met one of the Crider twins, and quickly requested a date that same evening. Truth be told, the date offer was extended only because the person he first wanted to ask out was busy. Ailene, the strong-willed twin, declined. There were, however, subsequent successful attempts. That summer of 1955 he enrolled into three courses at SIU-C. Wayne earned two Ds and one E – “Too busy playing softball and dating to do any better.” Poor grades motivated Wayne to look for a job. With the help of his baby brother, Dean, he found employment in Peoria at Caterpillar – Midnight shift – Moving sand from one place to another – Worked one night – Quit -Went back to college. Somewhere along the way, the stubborn Crider twin warmed up to the notion of dating. Wayne and Ailene were married Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1955.Transferring to Centralia Junior College – now Kaskaskia Community College – he finished his first two years in the spring of 1957. July birthed a surprise son Gary Wayne, then a return to SIU-C to eventually complete a Bachelors in Physical Education in 1959. His first teaching opportunity took him to Dahlgren High School, where he taught Physical Education and Driver’s Ed, and coached Basketball, Baseball and Track. Three years later, Wayne would accept a health and driver’s education position at Mt. Vernon Township High School. He remained there for a year. In 1963, he walked down the hall to the newly created Mt. Vernon Community College where he developed the physical education program and taught health. In many ways, Coach Arnold never left. Like many of his colleagues at MVCC, he transitioned to Rend Lake College when that change occurred July 1, 1967. Through the years, during summers, when not teaching or coaching – Wayne would travel again to SIU-C pursuing graduate degrees. This would result in a 1963 Masters in Physical Education and Guidance Counseling, and a second Masters in Recreation and Outdoor Education in 1972. Many still celebrate the Dahlgren High School District basketball win in 1962. Even more enjoyed “hiding the gun” and hailing Arnold as the “Most Unsuccessful Coach” with a record of 1 and 21 in the ’63-’64 Mt. Vernon Community College Warrior season. He is credited with establishing the MVCC Baseball program in 1963, launching the RLC Men’s Tennis Team in 1975, and serving often as Assistant Coach for the Women’s Basketball and RLC softball teams. He is best known as the father of the Fitness Center and the many associated programs which began on the campus and then were reproduced in multiple locations throughout the community. In the fall of 1995, the Wayne Arnold Fitness Center at Rend Lake College was named, a sibling to the newly christened James Waugh “HUMMER” gymnasium. Coach Arnold is also the spring board for the Rend Lake College Hall of Fame, heading the steering committee in 1999 to establish the constitution and bylaws. The first hall of famers were elected in the spring of 2000. Those who didn’t come into contact with Wayne in the classroom, or as a member of an athletic team, honked at him as he ran rain or shine; appreciated him at the Special Olympics, Cheerleading Camps and Blood Drives; complained to him during his years on the MVTHS Board of Education and City Park board meetings; heard him yell “play ball” from the score keeper’s bench at hundreds of basketball games; were greeted by him in the many fitness centers and finally the REC, until he was no longer able to be there. In 1981, the vision was simple – First, create a place where Rend Lake College students and community members could exercise. Secondly, develop a facility that would encourage people in two counties to drive to the corn fields of Ina to do so! Four decades later, Wayne’s name was placed on yet another athletic facility he helped establish, while celebrating the news that the RLC Foundation had raised more than $100,000 to be used to update the fitness center in the REC and to create an endowed scholarship in his name. It is in the Wayne Arnold Recreation Center where people will gather Saturday, June 10th, at 1 pm to celebrate a life well lived and graciously offered. Veterans Honor Guard and Interment will occur at 3:30 pm at Mt. Vernon Memorial Gardens. All are welcome at both events. When Wayne was not doing all things RLC, he was busy archiving family photos; doing ancestry and DNA research; planning, and executing several reunions all over the country for his beloved 2nd RSM; giving advice and imparting wisdom in his “teacher” voice wherever and whenever possible; and regularly staying in touch with family and friends, colleagues and former students, Air-force buddies and their families, and anyone else that made the time to be in conversation. Wayne was an active member at Logan Street Baptist Church. The family is very grateful for the support and love Pastor Alan and the faith community have shown Wayne and Ailene through the years, and most especially the past many months. Wayne and the Crider twin were married 57 years at the time of Ailene’s death in 2012. They have one son, Gary. He and Dan, his husband of over 30 years, now make their home in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Wayne’s only grandchild, Lydia, and her husband Matt, live in Atlanta, GA. They have two children. “I do not care what career you choose – whatever you choose, give it 110. Keep your sense of humor. Enjoy what you do. Be sure to enjoy life. Always remain a student. Look people in the eye. Say hello to as many as you are able, they may become your next best friend. And when it comes time to getting something done, do it to the best of your ability.” Class dismissed one final time, May 5, 2023. Memorial gifts may be given toward “The Game Plan”- the renovation of the James Waugh “HUMMER” gymnasium at www.rlc.edu/foundation