Every small town has at least one “colorful” character. Rube Lamont fit the bill for Kissimmee and although many people may have never heard of him, his background story is a fascinating one.

Born as Walter Savage in Morris County, New Jersey on June 9, 1876 he was the son of Eli C. and Catherine Savage. Walter was raised in Parsons, Kansas and played pro ball until enlisting in Company A 22nd Kansas Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish-American War. He was discharged November 3, 1898. It is not known when he began to call himself Rube Lamont.