Meritorious Service, Class of 2009
Ed Arnold’s relationship with Santa Ana College began in
1960 when Dons football coach Homer Beatty spoke at the Marine
Corp’s football team banquet. Arnold, a member of the
football team, was in the audience. Arnold enrolled at Santa Ana
College and was a member of the Dons 1961 Eastern Conference
Championship team.
Arnold transferred from SAC to California State University Long
Beach where he earned his bachelor’s degree in speech with a
radio/TV/film emphasis.
After working at several Los Angeles and Orange County radio
stations, Arnold joined KTLA in the late 60’s as an announcer
and later sportscaster until 1975. He then became a member of
KABC-TV’s “Eyewitness News” team until 1986.
While at ABC, Ed was also the voice of public television station
KCET. During this same period, he was a sports personality for
radio stations KRLA, KHTZ, and in 1986 and 1987, for KMPC. In
mid-1986, Ed Arnold returned to KTLA where he remained until July
1, 1999.
Arnold has gone on to work with several charities and foundations
including the Santa Ana College Foundation serving as the president
and chairman. Arnold is also a member of the Santa Ana College
Athletic Hall of Fame executive committee that helps raise money
for the growth and development of the Athletic Hall of Fame as well
as scholarships for student athletes.
Arnold serves as the master of ceremonies at both the golf
tournament and the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. The golf
tournament, originally known as the Santa Ana College Athletic Hall
of Fame Golf Classic was renamed the Ed Arnold Golf Classic in 2003
in honor of the work that Arnold has done for SAC athletics. Arnold
was selected as a SAC Distinguished Alumni and inducted into the
Santa Ana College Alumni Hall of Fame in 1980.
He is married to Dixie Arnold; together they have one son, Dean and two grandchildren, Jacob and Luke.