Joseph Floyd Vaughn: Born March 9th, 1912, in the town of Clifty, Arkansas. His parents, Robert and Laura Vaughn, moved the family to Mendocino, California, when Vaughn was about 7 months old. They would later move to Fullerton, where his father found work in the oilfields. His friends began calling him Arky when they learned of his birthplace, and for the rest of his life, he was called Arky.
At 5’10” and 175lbs, Vaughn was a multisport star at Fullerton High School. He also played on the undefeated Cypress Merchants of the Orange County Winter League in 1930-31.