Reprint from the Progress Times - January 25, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

Allen Arnold King Citrus LXXI

 

Since the very first Texas Citrus Fiesta in 1932, it has been a Fiesta tradition to select a man deeply committed to the Texas citrus industry as King Citrus. His identity is a closely-guarded secret until the new King Citrus walks out on stage the night of the Coronation during the annual Texas Citrus Fiesta.

Allen Arnold, a life-long citrus grower from Pharr, was crowned King Citrus LXXI at the Texas Citrus Fiesta’s Coronation. The new King will preside over the Kingdom of Citrus throughout the Fiesta’s activities.

Arnold, at age 79, continues to grow citrus on the same land his family has farmed since 1928.

Arnold’s father, Russell Arnold, moved to the Valley from Kansas in 1917, forming White Mule Farms. He planted the family’s first citrus orchards in 1928, the year Allen Arnold was born.

As the family’s citrus operation grew, they formed their own packing operation, Arnold Groves, with the farm headquarters on Earling Rd. But as the operation expanded, they moved the packing operations to downtown Pharr.

With the advent of World War II it became difficult to find workers, so the packing operation was closed down. But the citrus groves kept on growing.

Arnold attended P.S.J.A schools, participating in basketball, baseball, track and football. After graduating from high school in 1945, he attended Edinburg Junior College.

Arnold has farmed his entire life with his father and brother, William. Together, they opened R.D. Arnold & Sons Farms. They grew cotton, corn, sorghum and vegetables, but their mainstay was always citrus.

Arnold joined the Texas Farm Bureau in 1952, and later became president of the Tri-City Farm Bureau. He was elected as a director for the Hidalgo County Farm Bureau.

In 1961, he joined the Edinburg Citrus Association where, by the following year, he was elected as a director; he has been on the board continuously since that time.

R.D. Arnold & Sons was awarded Outstanding Conservation Farmers by the Southwest Soil & Water Conservation District in 1966. In the late 1960s Allen was instrumental in establishing Texas Citrus Exchange, where he currently serves as an alternate director.

Arnold has served on the board of the Hidalgo County Water & Improvement District #2 continuously since 1978. He is currently president of the board of directors.

After the passing of their father in 1987, Allen and his brother, William, formed Arnold Farms and decided to devote more time and energy to citrus.

Arnold’s many years in the industry have not gone unnoticed. He was awarded  the Outstanding Member Award by the Hidalgo Farm Bureau. In 1995, he was recipient of a special award from Texas Citrus Mutual for his “untiring dedication to the citrus industry of Texas.”

In 1998, Allen and his brother, William, were honored by the Fort Worth Star Telegram Farm and Ranch with an award in the citrus fruit, grain and other crops category. Allen was inducted into the Texas Produce Hall of Fame in 2002.

Arnold and his wife, Tish, have been married 55 years and they have two sons. Son, Jeff Arnold, is general manager of Edinburg Citrus Association. Jack Arnold is a special agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency.  

Through droughts, hurricanes and freezes, Arnold has persevered and continues to grow some 200 acres of citrus, using the old home place as headquarters for all their farming operations.

Even though Arnold, who will turn 80 on February 1, has slowed down a bit, he seldom misses a board meeting or a citrus industry function. And while the city has moved in all around his farm, he continues to take pride in and enjoys citrus farming.