Former Guilford County Commissioner Steve Arnold has passed away.
On Monday morning, May 1, Guilford County officials and others were still seeking more information on the demise of the staunch long-term Republican commissioner who played a key role in Guilford County politics for decades.
The fiery Arnold, a real estate developer, was known over the years for consistently voting no on measures that his Democratic commissioners supported.
Arnold, 61, who represented High Point much of his political life, passed away Friday, April 28, at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
Born in Chicago in 1961, Arnold graduated from Andrews High School in High Point and the the University of North Carolina at Greensboro – in addition to attending a bible college in England.
He worked as a general contractor and developer and fell on very hard times after the financial collapse of 2007.
Arnold served as an elected official for more than a quarter of a century – on the High Point City Council, in the North Carolina House of Representatives, and on the Guilford County Board of Commissioners where he served as chairman in 1991. In 1996, he ran for lieutenant governor of the state of North Carolina but did not win.
Arnold’s obituary reads, “Steve loved the English language, read voraciously, and steeped himself in Scripture daily. Despite painful suffering, he successfully battled cancer in the past and strove with all the strength God gave him to overcome it again. Selfless, kind, and patient, Steve valued his family above all. Steve will be remembered as a loving husband, father, brother, and son, a consummate gentleman, and a loyal friend.”
Arnold was often a lone Republican voice on a Democratic-majority Guilford County Board of Commissioners. However, in 2008, after the financial collapse, he joined forces with Chairman of the Guilford County Board of Commissioners Skip Alston, and for years the two ran the county in a rare bipartisan manner.
He was a lone voice in the wilderness. No one had his back. That did not deter him. I remember him with admiration. Condolences to his family.
Saddened to hear this. I met him once when he was running for some state office, I guess it was Lieutenant Governor. There was a fundraiser at, um, Kepley’s Barn (?), some big red barn north of High Point. Robin Hayes was there too. I spoke with Steve Arnold briefly and he seemed like a nice guy. I agreed with his politics and helped his campaign with a small cheque.
It’s a shame he died without getting old.
God bless him and his family. Really looked out for Christians and hard working taxpayers. No-one on the board doing that now.
You know how that old saying goes…
I wonder how this obituary would have read if someone else had written it?
Either way I respect the dead and will just leave that there for thought. After all, I’m Just Sayin’.
If you know, you know.
Wow Scott, I don’t know you but you’re a real jerk. Steve was a great man, husband and father. I knew him personally. He was family. I don’t believe I ever met you at any of the family gatherings, Christmas, Birthdays, dinners….. so take your unwelcomed opinion elsewhere as you did not know him. Consider his wife and 3 children next time you decide to write an article about him. I’d hate to see what they will write about you in your obituary.
Kim, I just re-read the article I wrote and I swear to you I have absolutely no idea what I said that so offended you. Please respond and me know. Also, you may not realize that, upon hearing the news of Steve’s death, this article was written and posted very quickly to get the news out as fast as possible. It was not meant to be a long piece about Steve’s life. I also don’t believe that Steve would object to anything in there: He was very proud, for instance of his record of constantly voting no and working with Skip Alston.
Did you know Steve??? I think not… a good person!
Your comment makes it clear you don’t have a glowing memory of Steve Arnold. Fine.
You say you respect the dead, but just HAD to get in a final dig. Real class!
There is another old saying: “If you don’t have anything GOOD to say, don’t say ANYTHING AT ALL.”
Just sayin’
What would you like the reader to interpret from your comment? Sounds snarky to me.
Uncalled for.
I first met Steve at an event for Jesse Helms in High Point. I found him to be a thoughtful, energetic conservative who was not afraid to state his opinions but did so without being hateful or vindictive. Later when both he and I were elected officials we sometimes were not in agreement on every issue, but the ones we disagreed on were few and ar between. I never doubted his commitment to God, family or country. My prayers for his family. Your loss is our loss.
Saddened a long time friend
A great man. RIP Steve.
Rest in Peace Steve. Although I did not reside in Guilford, it was hard not to see your faithful efforts on behalf of the people you represented. You fought the good fight day in and day out. Until Valhalla.