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C.W. Cleon Wade Mount

Born in 1880, C. W. Mount was the son of Walter and Mary Mount.

C. W. Mount graduated from High School in 1896 at the age of 16.

C.W. Mount ran away from home at the age of 16 to join the army where he fought in the Spanish American War. He achieved the rank of Sergeant.

He attended Butler University and later received his law degree from the Indianapolis School of Law, now Indiana University School of Law.

During World War I he organized Company 1 of the Indiana National Guard which was activated into the US army. He achieved the rank of Colonel.

C.W. Mount was instrumental in securing the National Guard Armory in Tipton and in the formulation of the Charles Sturdevant Post 46 of the American Legion. He was the first Commander of Post 46.

C.W. Mount is the only man to serve two non-consecutive terms as Circuit Court Judge. (1925-1931 & 1947-1953) He is also one of the only father-son team to serve as Judge. His father Walter W. Mount was Judge from 1896-1902.

He had various business interests and at the time of his death in 1954, he was president of the Farmers Loan and Trust Company and the Tipton Telephone Company.

In 1950 the judge wrote a will establishing the funding for the existing facility. He placed telephone stock, 300 acres of farmland and a small amount of cash into a trust with the income going to his wife Neva and daughter. Upon their death the proceeds shall be used for,

“the securing of a site and the erection of a building thereon as and for a Community Building for the County and the City of Tipton. Said building shall be erected not more than two blocks from the Courthouse square and shall provide a place for public meetings, teen age canteens, likewise for adults, and such other uses as are normal for Community Buildings. If either the County or City declines this bequest, the same shall go to the one not declining, if both decline, then said proceeds shall become a permanent endowment fund to the said Farmers Loan & Trust Company, Trustee, to be kept invested in safe interest bearing securities, the income therefrom, after paying costs of trusteeship to be expended in assisting worthy students from the City of Tipton and Prairie Township in securing a college education or business school training.”

In December, 2001, the current facility, now known as, “C.W. Mount Community Center”, was opened for business. The building houses the Boys & Girls Club, the Tipton County Senior Center, Lifetime Fitness Center of Tipton Co. Memorial Hospital, as well as provides banquet & meeting facilities for the general public.