Men To Watch 2025 honoree Arthur Cottingham

Arthur Cottingham was born in the small town of Centreville, Alabama. Due to family issues, his mother decided to move him and his two older sisters to another small town, West Blocton, Alabama. This is where his journey truly began. In West Blocton, he was embraced by his mom’s cousin, who had four sons and one daughter. They treated him like one of their own, sharing their athletic skills with him. Despite his smaller stature, Arthur thrived in their competitive backyard games, whether it was basketball, baseball, or football. This early experience taught him the importance of perseverance and the meaning of his mom’s words: “where there is a will, there is a way.”

Arthur excelled in three sports throughout high school, but baseball was his best. His talent earned him several scholarships offers, but his mom chose for him to attend Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, next door to the University of Alabama, which also offered him a scholarship. His mom believed it was better for him to go to Stillman, where one of his cousins, who had helped mold him, was about to finish and was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds.

At Stillman, Arthur faced new challenges. He had to balance academics with the extra work

required to make the baseball team. Initially, he struggled, ending up on academic probation by midterm during the fall semester. However, he remembered his mom’s words and managed to bring his grades up, making the Dean’s list and maintaining that standard for the rest of his time at Stillman.

Arthur’s freshman year was successful. Although he had to share playing time with a senior player, he worked hard and earned recognition as SIAC Rookie of the Year and Rookie of the Year for the Stillman Tigers. His sophomore year was even better, and by his junior year, he caught the attention of MLB scouts. During the Conference Tournament, he was named MVP, and Stillman won its second championship in three years. Despite his success, there were doubts about his size—at 5’6” and 158 lbs.—and coming from an HBCU.

Two weeks after the tournament, Arthur received a call from Ted Sparks, a scout from the Atlanta Braves, who had been watching him since high school and wanted to draft him for a Double-A farm team. Arthur was thrilled, but during pre-workout training, he severely pulled his right hamstring, putting his opportunity on hold. Ted Sparks advised him to focus on his education and get his degree, as it would be difficult to get another chance.

After graduating with honors, Arthur played some semi-pro baseball but eventually shifted his focus. He became an assistant baseball coach and a sporting goods team representative, but the pay was insufficient. After joining the Army for four active years, two years as a reservist, and two years as an inactive reservist, Arthur married his college sweetheart, Gayle.

Arthur’s career took a turn when he applied for a management trainee position at Roadway Express in Greenville, South Carolina. He worked hard, shadowing supervisors and terminal operation managers, and quickly moved up in the company. When his first son, Myles, was born, he accepted a promotion to Shelby, North Carolina. However, the Gulf War called him back to active duty, delaying his deployment and potentially saving his life.

Returning from Desert Storm, Arthur and Gayle had their second son, Mackenzie. They moved to a larger market in Charlotte, North Carolina, where Arthur faced new challenges. When his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, Arthur's faith and resilience were tested. Despite her five-year battle, Gayle passed away at 42. Arthur, now raising two young sons alone, decided to leave Roadway Express.

Partnering with a long-time customer, Arthur started AOL Freight Solutions, which grew rapidly and was featured in Pride Magazine. After seven years, he founded Alpha Logistics Solutions, integrating all his passions and experiences to bridge the gap between need and means. He remarried, and his new wife, Desiree, who is now an integral part of his journey.

Arthur’s youngest son, Mackenzie, graduated from Stillman College, where he played baseball. Arthur is now the President of the Stillman College Baseball Legacy Foundation, supporting the team financially and through mentorship. Arthur’s journey, marked by hard work and resilience, has transformed his work into a passion, making a lasting impact on those around him.

Arthur has recently joined the campaign of LEANCHAMPIONS LEAD BY Dr. Lean Murai of the Value Enablers Academy the goal is to provide training for 1,000,000 young professionals and give them an opportunity to increase their value by being a certified Lean-Six Signa Green Belt. A challenge well worth it.