♠ Life Wins ♦ All Americans ♣ Rookie of the Year ♥ Record Holders ♠ Hall Of Fame
Kissimee, FL
1920 - 1993
Jim Arblaster joined the Army in 1936 and after serving a three year hitch took an honorable discharge. He entered military service again during World War II and participated in the invasion of Europe at Normandy Beach where he earned the Purple Heart Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1946 but was back in the Army in 1948. During service in Korea he was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge and Purple Heart Medal for the second time. Later he was awarded the Vietnam Service Medal and other awards.
While serving in Birmingham, Alabama in 1960, he met and married Marlyne Claytor. It was, indeed, a happy marriage. After Jim retired from the Army, he and Marlyne put down permanent roots in Kissimmee, Florida.
In 1979, Jim, Joseph Wergin, and other prominent cribbage players met at Raleigh, North Carolina where they agreed to form the American Cribbage Congress. Jim was elected to the Board of Directors, served as the first Secretary-Treasurer and was a member of the Rules Committee for ten years. He organized the Honorable Order of Cribadier General, set the standards for the Cribbage Hall of Fame, and developed the Master Rating Point system. He maintained the membership program and became Editor of Cribbage World magazine for four years, 1979-1983.
Jim was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982.
