Peter Arbuthnot
Peter attended Ole Miss and in 1971 graduated with a BA in Sociology with minors in Psychology and German. Peter quickly discovered that there was no hope for a "Sociology Shop"!
Peter served his non-military service commitment at Rush Hospital in Meridian from 1971-1973. Peter was also sound and light technician with a Meridian rock band during that time with aspirations of moving to California. The band fell apart but that did not stop Peter from a fun time in California living in a commune (see me IRL for more info on that
After that half-year sabbatical, Peter returned to Clinton, worked for School Pictures. And within months had moved back to Meridian to join a retail clothing chain called "The Grocery Store". Peter worked at the Grocery Store as Warehouse Mgr., Inventory Control Mgr. and later Merchandise Mgr. The business eventually closed but Peter gained a new interest while controlling the inventory on a paper system.
He knew there had to be a better way. At 30, he needed a career.
In 1979 Peter decided to go back to school for a degree in computer science and in two full semesters was able to get a two-year degree with highest honors in Data Processing from Meridian Jr. College.
During the 80's he worked for The Mississippi Republican Party as DP Mgr., a Systems Analyst/Programmer for a Digital Equipment OEM, and a market research firm as systems analyst and comptroller, all located in Jackson.
In 1983, Peter married B.R. Blalock from Columbus. B.R. had a 2-year-old daughter, Sarah, from a previous marriage. In 1985, they added a boy named John to the family. B.R. also worked at MS Republican Party and Market Research Institute.
In 1989, B.R. went to work at Godwin Group advertising agency to develop a market research department. And that same year, Peter got a job as a systems analyst at the MS Dept of Health. BR eventually moved to Skytel paging to start another research department. Skytel was recently acquired by MCI Worldcomm. BR is an accomplished artist as well and has had showings in the Jackson area.
Peter worked for the state until late in 1998. He worked on a CMS (Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services) federal project dealing with nursing home reform for Medicare and Medicaid payment systems as well as a quality of care initiative. Peter enjoyed that project and served on the task group for the national implementation. He also led training sessions and spoke at national conventions on the MS project.
When this pilot project turned into national reform Peter left the state to join the private sector and is now a regulatory business analyst for American Healthtech in Jackson. This is a software company that specializes in solutions for the long-term care industry.
Peter and BR divorced but maintain a good relationship supporting Sarah and John. Peter and John have lived together since 2003 in Jackson. John works as a painter/body repair/Mgr at an auto body shop in Byram.
