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// PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL // July/August 2016
Arch Gleason:
Remembering
an Industry Giant
Arthur L. “Arch” Gleason Jr., a husband, father, grandfather,
friend and globally-recognized business professional—with a heart
as big as the sky—passed away on July 1, 2016. He was 69 years
old. In addition to being an industry giant for more than 25 years,
in addition to tirelessly serving the industry associations in almost
all of the offices up to and including president, Arch Gleason was
the most genuinely kind and thoughtful person you could know.
This spirit of generosity and compassionate wisdom engendered
such strong feelings of affection among his countless friends.
Arch had just recently announced his retirement from the Ken-
tucky Lottery. At that time, he said,
“The Kentucky Lottery has gen-
erated billions of dollars for Kentucky education, with a record $236.1
million contribution in 2015. Over the years we’ve built one of the
most successful lotteries in the country, a powerful economic engine for
our state which will run for years to come. I’m so proud of our efforts.”
For nearly 23 years, Arch served as president and CEO of the
Kentucky Lottery Corporation. He oversaw the growth of the lot-
tery to an operation with nearly $1 billion annually in sales. Arch
handed numerous four-foot-long checks to Powerball winners, nev-
er missed recognizing an employee’s birthday, and most importantly
oversaw the Kentucky Lottery’s transition to be the funding source
of college scholarship and grant programs.
“Arch leaves behind an
amazing legacy,”
said Kentucky Lottery Board Chair June Hudson.
“He took such great pride in the Kentucky kids that went to college using
more than $2.5 billion in scholarships and grants generated during his
tenure. He would often relate stories of young people he met and how
gratifying it was to hear how education had helped shape their future.
And he always refused to get an unlisted home telephone number, in case
a player wanted to call him with a question or concern. That was Arch.”
Arch spent two decades as a CPA before entering government
service. Prior to coming to Kentucky, he served two separate terms
as director of the West Virginia Lottery, and as secretary of the West
Virginia Department of Transportation, special assistant to the gov-
ernor of West Virginia, and chairman of the Public Port Authority.
Arch rose to become recognized as one the most respected and
accomplished lottery leaders in the U.S. and the world. He truly
had a servant’s heart, and it steered much of his work. He led Ken-
tucky to be one of the first U.S. lotteries to establish a responsible
gambling program. He also took this work to the global communi-
ty, serving five years as president of the World Lottery Association,
working to establish the first-ever responsible gambling standards
for lottery use on a world-wide basis. Arch also served as president
of the North American Association of State and Provincial Lotteries
(NASPL) and as president of the Multi State Lottery Corporation
(the oversight agency for the Powerball game). He was a member of
the Public Gaming Research Institute’s Lottery Hall of Fame, and
recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award. Arch was set to re-
ceive the Lottery Industry Statesman Award at PGRI Lottery Expo
in Miami in September. There will be a ceremony at Lottery Expo
to honor Arch and all that he has done for this industry.
His charitable efforts over the decades were endless, but he par-
ticularly enjoyed his work on the boards of directors for Bridge-
haven Mental Health Services (where he served as board president),
the Fund for the Arts and the American Heart Association. Arch
was also a member of the Metro United Way’s Tocqueville Society.
Arch is survived by the love of his life Annie Gleason, his bride of
nearly 48 years. He was the proud father of four, Archie (Rachel),
Colleen, Katie and Ryan (Kenzie), as well as seven grandchildren
and many nieces and nephews.
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