Arthur Harris, Co-Founder

Never content to sit idly and let life pass him by, Arthur Harris went back to school after handing over his hugely-successful spa business to his son, Richard. Now, at the age of 81, Arthur recently received his B.A. degree in English from Kennesaw State University, where he graduated cum laude. Arthur is the oldest person to receive a degree in the university's history.

Arthur and his wife, Sydell, opened the first Spa Sydell 25 years ago in a 1,700 square-foot space on West Paces Ferry with a small business loan. The skincare center was instantly profitable, and today there are seven flourishing Spa Sydell locations employing more than 550 people in the Atlanta area. Arthur credits the spa's success to his wife's skincare expertise and his own business savvy, which he developed while working as a national sales manager for a chain of computer software schools. The sales manager position eventually led to a position running the schools in Atlanta, Wichita and Kansas City, and Arthur and Sydell have called Atlanta home ever since.

Arthur has a voracious appetite for learning and plans to resume his studies in for a second degree. While his love of writing and reading eventually drew him towards a major in English, his first inclination was to study psychology. His unfamiliarity with computers, however, influenced his decision to put psychology on the back burner. Now he's ready to tackle those lab classes and get his B.S. in psychology. Eventually, he would love to earn a master's degree.

While Arthur loves change and flux, one thing that never ceases is his devotion to his wife, Sydell. They met as teenagers when Arthur welcomed Sydell to the neighborhood by washing her face with snow, and the two entrepreneurs have been inseparable ever since. Arthur and Sydell have two children together, Richard and Karen. Arthur is extremely proud of the integrity and the strong work ethic he sees in both of his children, proving that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Arthur's zest for life is a tribute to his father and brother, whose early deaths after retiring inspired him to live life to the fullest. Recently, Arthur traveled to Italy and spent five weeks studying Renaissance History and Travel Writing in Montepulciano, a small village in Tuscany. Always a good sport, Sydell came along and took a drawing course while her husband finished the courses he needed to complete his degree. The highlights of the trip included stimulating dinners with the faculty and, of course, a week-long visit from Richard and Karen.