A graduate of the Tufts College of Engineering in 1931, Arlanson was an outstanding football and baseball player during his undergraduate career. He was captain of both football and baseball in his senior year after holding the baseball captaincy as a junior. He played end on the gridiron and served as a catcher on the Jumbo nine. Throughout his competitive career Arlanson never played on any Jumbo athletic team which did not achieve a winning record. In 1935 he began his long and tremendously successful coaching career at Weymouth High School. Except for 30 months' service in World War II as a naval officer, he coached football at Weymouth until called to his dual post at Tufts in 1954. At the time he left Weymouth, Arlanson was also director of physical education in the Weymouth schools, having been named to the post in 1940. During the 18 years at Weymouth, the popular and personable Arlanson's teams enjoyed unprecedented success. His team compiled the fabulous record of 135 wins, 19 losses and 10 ties, and had eight undefeated seasons. He brought the Weymouth High teams from class C "doormats" to class A champions. In 1936 his Weymouth eleven won the class B crown and another title in 1940. In 1950, and 1953, Weymouth was the Class A champion of the Bay State. At one point during the Arlanson tenure, Weymouth was the holder of a 31 game winning streak. Coach Arlanson is a member of the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Hall of Fame 1964, Eastern Chapter of the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame 1988, Tufts University Distinguished Service Key and many others, too numerous to list here; but perhaps his most cherished honor was bestowed on him by the grateful citizens of Weymouth on October 21, 1990 at the dedication of the Harry Arlanson Football Field at Legion Stadium.