James F. Arnold Elected President of the Boone and Crockett Club

MISSOULA, Mont. – At the Boone and Crockett Club’s recent annual meeting, James F. (Jim) Arnold was elected as president and began a two-year term that will end in December 2022. Arnold is the president and chief executive officer for Arnold Oil Company of Austin. He has been a regular member of the Club since 2004 serving on six committees.

“I am honored to have been chosen by my peers as the incoming president of the Boone and Crockett Club. I have been actively engaged in the conservation community for many years but serving as the Club’s president is my most meaningful and cherished achievement,” Arnold said. “I look forward to working closely with the Club’s outstanding staff and members to lead this venerable organization as it continues to play a critical role in the country’s most pressing conservation challenges.”

Arnold grew up in New Braunfels, TX and attended Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business on an athletic scholarship playing on the football team that won the 1974 Southwest Conference Championship title. He founded Arnold Oil Company of Austin in March of 1977 at age 24, and after almost 44 years the company has diversified into many divisions with locations that cover most of Texas. He has served on numerous national industry related councils over the past 35 years in the capacity of Council chairman, Executive committee chairman, Board of Directors, and has received many national top industry achievement awards. 

Arnold and his wife Rhonda live in Austin but have a ranch in south Texas, where they have hosted many Wounded Warrior and youth hunts over the years. Arnold is also actively involved in the conservation community. He is a Boone and Crockett WildernessWarrior as well as a Safari Club Life Member and an SCI Hunter Legacy Member; in addition, he participates with the Caesar Kleberg Research Association as well as the Mule Deer Foundation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and the Wild Sheep Foundation. As a regular member of the Boone and Crockett Club, Arnold serves on the Records, Ranch, Strategic Planning, Associates, and Membership Committees. He was the Club’s Vice President of Administration from 2011 to 2016 and the Executive Vice President of Administration from 2016 to 2020.

“Jim Arnold has been a strong leader for the Boone and Crockett Club ever since he became a regular member 16 years ago. We look forward to his leadership as the Club moves forward with our top priorities including our new Poach & Pay program, improved policies for forest management and habitat health, Chronic Wasting Disease and much more,” noted chief executive officer, Tony A. Schoonen.