Keystone Threads

HAPPY ACCIDENT

Our family bleeds Nittany Lion blue. A great majority of people in Central Pennsylvania have attended Penn State University, studied at a Commonwealth campus, or are rabid fans of Nittany Lion sports. Both my wife and her sister graduated from Main Campus, and our son later followed in their footsteps as a graduate and four-year member of the Penn State Blue Band. When he moved into his freshman dorm right across the street from the Nittany Lion Shrine, we walked over to check out the monument. Wouldn’t you know it—my wife’s great-granduncle was listed right there on the informational display!

ARNIE’S ROLE

While history rightfully remembers the Class of 1940 for funding the monument, the entire campus effort required the backing of Penn State’s top student executive: All-College President Arnold Clifton Laich. Elected to the university’s highest student office for the 1940–1941 academic year, Arnold C. Laich was the voice of the Penn State student body during a momentous era.

Historic archives from The Daily Collegian show Laich working closely with senior class leadership and University President Ralph Dorn Hetzel, managing campus affairs and representing Penn State on the national stage—including attending Ivy League bicentennial celebrations to represent the undergraduate student body. The push for a permanent Nittany Lion statue began as a campaign by President Hetzel and prominent student leaders who wanted a dedicated place for campus rallies and celebrations. Though the Class of 1940 took the lead on sponsoring the gift, it was during Arnold Laich’s tenure as All-College President that the campus-wide coordination, excitement, and administrative backing truly solidified the project, paving the way for sculptor Heinz Warneke to carve the famous limestone lion we know today.

EARLY LIFE

Arnold Clifton “Arnie” Laich was born in Munson, Pennsylvania, on September 29, 1916, to August “Robert” Laich (1883-1953) and Walborg Nelseena Nelson (1889-1967). Robert Laich arrived in the United States in 1891 from Marjanin, now named Marynin, Poland, which at the time was a territory of Russia. He was the oldest of five children who made the trip to America with their parents, Gottlieb Laich (1859-1906) and Emelia “Amelia” Leonhardt (1864-1926). Family stories state that the entire town of Marjanin left Russia to pursue a life in the United States.

The Laich family desired to work in the railroad industry, but when they settled in Munson, near the town of Winburne on the Centre/Clearfield County line, they quickly discovered that work in the railroad industry was not available in this area. Some of the family relocated to Altoona to work for the railroads, but others remained in Munson. Concurrently, Berten Merritt was expanding his sawmill and mining operations in Winburne, so naturally, the Laich men who remained found work in the coal mines of the area. Robert remained single until August 10, 1910, when he married Walborg. Her father, Nels Nelson (1859-1925), hailed from Sweden, while her mother, Doratha “Dorothy” Jensen (1858-1905), emigrated from Denmark.

Arnie was born the third of four children, Adelaine Dorthea Laich (1911-1991), Edward Frederick “Eddie” Laich (1914-1983), Arnie, and Raymond Robert Laich (1922-1923).

He attended Cooper Township High School in Winburne, and was active in school plays, minstrels, and even performed on stage with his brother Eddie! He graduated in June of 1933 and enrolled at The Pennsylvania State College (currently Penn State University) at an unknown date, although he was listed as living in State College in 1935. Arnie was active in student government throughout his career at Penn State, eventually rising to All-College President in May of 1940. He graduated on June 9, 1941, with a degree in Arts and Letters, a broad, multidisciplinary liberal arts degree that focuses on the study of human culture, history, literature, and expression. Not only was Arnie consumed with his role as All-College President, but he was listed as a head waiter in State College, and married fellow student Edith Ann Wilkins Laich (1919-2010) on August 21, 1938. Edith was born in New Jersey and listed as working in the beauty industry while in college.

POST-GRADUATION

Arnie’s connections in college proved useful, as he was hired by the institution as a representative for the Penn State Extension Services. He moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania, and shortly thereafter, his first and only child, Margaret Ann “Marge” Laich, was born on July 30, 1941. She was baptized on October 11, 1942, in Moorestown, New Jersey, where her mother, Edith, was born and raised. Eventually, the family moved closer to Edith’s childhood home; the January 3, 1944, issue of the Allentown newspaper reported that the family had relocated to Camden, New Jersey. By the time of the 1950 census, Arnie’s family was living with Edith’s parents in Burlington, New Jersey, where he was listed as working as the office manager for his father-in-law’s trucking company. Later in the 1950s, Arnie was recorded as living in Merchantville, which was the next town over from Camden and about 15 miles southwest of Burlington. There, he was active in the local Rotary Club and served as a leader of the regional Penn State Alumni Association. In 1962, Arnie was a first-class passenger on the British T.S.S. “Ocean Monarch”, a steamship that made regular trips from New York City to Bermuda. Before air travel became commonplace, this ship was considered a luxurious experience.

OCEAN CITY, NEW JERSEY

Sometime between August 1962 and February 1963, Arnie relocated to Ocean City, New Jersey. His daughter, Marge, married Roger Deermount there on February 11, 1963. Arnie’s obituary stated that he was employed in management for two hotels in the area: the Port-O-Call Hotel and Motor Inn and the Sting Ray Motor Inn. Both of these hotels were located in the heart of Ocean City and served as premier destinations for travelers to the beachfront. The Port-O-Call opened in 1966 and featured 98 rooms, suites with private balconies, ocean views, and an outdoor heated pool right on the oceanfront. The striking building was painted pastel pink, making it a noticeable landmark along the shoreline.

The Sting Ray Motel featured a dramatic lobby with a curved staircase, a courtyard swimming pool, a breakfast buffet, and fully air-conditioned rooms. The motel also featured a massive neon sign to draw in customers from the boardwalk. Managing either of these prime locations would have been regarded as a coveted and respected position in Ocean City. Throughout this time, Arnie also continued his active involvement with the Penn State Alumni Association.

RETIREMENT AND PASSING

Arnie retired in 1980 and relocated to Jensen Beach, Florida. There, he became a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church in nearby Stuart and remained an active supporter of the local Penn State Alumni Association. He passed away on November 13, 1980, while visiting Ocean City, New Jersey—just eleven days after the death of his beloved brother, Edward. Arnie was survived by his wife, Edith; daughter Marge; his sister, Adelaine Merritt; and two grandchildren.