Herb Arnold was an outgoing innovator who could make anyone feel they were on top of the world.
His eldest son, Mark Arnold, described his father as “Don Draper from the TV show ‘Mad Men.’ ”
In the 1950s he attended Pennsylvania State University and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served for two years in Iceland. Upon his return he enrolled at Harvard University and received a master’s degree in business administration.
Herbert Arnold then launched his career on Madison Avenue, and for 20 years he worked as a senior account executive representing brands such as Maxwell House coffee, General Foods, Jiffy Pop popcorn and Pepsi-Cola.
With each job he, “brought tremendous, drive and creativity,” Mark Arnold said of his father.
A mover and shaker, Arnold stayed on top of new inventions and always had something new going on. “In 1960 he built his own stereo,” said son James Arnold.
“As kids in high school we had a (Pepsi) fountain installed in the house,” Mark Arnold added.
In 1972 Arnold, his wife Madeline Gardner and their three kids moved to Atlanta. Arnold began working as a consultant for Coca-Cola Co. Three years later he joined Coca-Cola USA full-time as vice president and general manager of fountain sales.
Arnold was a pioneer of the large fountain drink. When he started at Coca-Cola the drink size was 9 ounces; by the time he retired it was 18 ounces.
In July 1978 he was featured on the cover of Beverage World magazine and named “King of the Fountain.”
“He embraced the job and role with such passion,” said son Mark. “He had a way of working with his team to grow the fountain business like they’ve never seen it before.”
Herbert Allan Arnold, of Atlanta, died Thursday of Alzheimer’s disease. He was 85. A funeral service was held Sunday at Arlington Memorial Park, 201 Mt. Vernon Hwy. N.W., Sandy Springs. H.M. Patterson & Son-Spring Hill was in charge of arrangements.
“He taught me to be respectful and to be a good person,” said James Arnold.
James said everyone that got to know him could feel his energy and loved it: “He was always interested in what people were doing.”
“He would be out there doing it with you,” Mark added.
Arnold was athletic and loved to ski and play tennis. Each September he took his family to the U.S. Open Tennis Championships where he, along with Coca-Cola, became a major sponsor of the tournament.
He also shared his passion for skiing with his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, taking the family on ski trips for vacations. “It became the family passion,” said Mark Arnold.
Arnold was devoted to a number of community organizations including Variety Children’s Charity and the Sautee Nacoochee culture center in Helen. Ga.
Arnold was preceded in death by his daughter Susan Arnold and first wife Madeline Gardner.
In addition to his two sons he is survived by his wife Mytice, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
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