Oral history interview with John H. Arriola, 5 June 2007.
(Document/manuscript/pamphlet/archival material)

Materials housed in Special Collections Division of the Main Library, Nashville Public Library.

This interview was recorded in digital format using a Marantz PMD671 solid state recorder. The interview was recorded in .wav format at 48 khz and 16 bit and was converted to .mp3 format for access.

In library use only. Available by appointment.

Scope and content: Oral history interview with Nashville businessman, former State Representative for the 53rd District, civic leader, and Davidson County, Tennessee Clerk John H. Arriola, Jr., conducted 5 June 2007 by James T. Havron as part of the Library Interviews series of the Nashville Public Library's Nashville Business Leaders Oral History Project. During the 1 hour interview, Arriola discusses such topics as his childhood and education growing up in Nashville; attending Fall Elementary School; his family's history in small business; his mother's experience in the service industry; his college business education; participation in a unique internship opportunity and how it turned into a job in the healthcare industry; the startup of Norman Couser's Country Cooking and the "meat and three" style menu; school desegregation and civil rights; the decline in locally grown produce as a result of urbanization; his parents' significant role and pride in the family business; how the business will stay in the family and how both immediate and extended family are involved in upkeep and improvement; and his advice about starting a business in the service industry, emphasizing time commitment.

Cite as: Oral history interview with John H. Arriola, Nashville Business Leaders Oral History Project, Special Collections Division, Nashville Public Library.

This material may be protected by copyright law (Title 17 U.S. Code)

John H. Arriola, Jr., was born in Nashville, Tenn., in 1956. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee at Martin. While in college, Arriola completed internships at local hospitals that began his career in the healthcare industry. He later served as Vice President of Nashville Memorial Hospital. Arriola ran for Metro Council and worked as Executive Assistant for U.S. Representative Bob Clement before being elected to the Tennessee House of Representatives in 1990. He served the 53rd District for twelve years, holding the position of Assistant Majority Leader for six years. He was appointed to the Tennessee Commission on Aging for the term 2004-2010. Arriola cuurrently owns Norman Couser's Country Cooking, the family-style restaurant begun by his parents Norman and Viola Couser in 1987, across from the Nashville Zoo. He married the former Michelle Elliott in 1988, and they have two daughters, Katie Elizabeth and Jessica Nicole.

In English.

Index available in repository.

Forms part of: Nashville Business Leaders Oral History Project: Library Interviews.