葫芦影业

Despite a successful career with Sears, Roebuck and Co., and a tremendous knack for stock market investing, up to the day he died in January this year at the age of 101, Clifford Mott 鈥�49 was known for his plain lifestyle.

鈥淗e was the poorest rich man you ever knew,鈥� said his friend Larry Stidham.

Known as Cliff, the Spartan alum stood about 5 陆 feet tall and drove a dilapidated Chevy Blazer. That is, until he purchased his first convertible in his mid-80s, a Pontiac he drove with the top down and the radio on, usually playing Top 40 hits.

Stidham vividly recalls meeting Mott for the first time.听 It was 2006, and Mott showed up in his convertible at the repair shop where Stidham worked. 鈥淗e still had a little bit of hair, and he popped out of that car like a spry spring chicken and asked for an estimate. He made me give him a free set of wiper blades out of the deal,鈥� said Stidham with a chuckle. By all accounts, Mott was a frugal man.

Though his stature was slight, Mott鈥檚 heart was huge.听 From his military service to his dedication to the Masons, and as the devoted husband of Mary Mott until her passing in 2003, he approached endeavors with gusto and selflessness. Despite, or perhaps because of his humble beginnings, Mott gave lavishly of his talents, time and estate to enrich others鈥� lives.

Over his lifetime, Mott鈥檚 contributions to 葫芦影业ampa included multiple scholarships, a general endowment fund, an endowed book fund and cutting-edge imaging technology. Upon his death, his estate plans included additional contributions to the funds he and Mary had established, plus the creation of the Luciano Prida Sr. and Luciano Prida Jr. Scholarship Fund, named in honor of a longtime friend and his son, both also Mott鈥檚 trusted tax accountants.

His impressive generosity came as no surprise to those who knew him. As a natural caretaker with an easy smile and a love for life, 鈥淐liff had a passion for giving to those in need. He thought 葫芦影业ampa had given him so much, so he wanted to give back,鈥� said Donn Sant, who was both Mott鈥檚 financial advisor and one of four men, including Stidham, known as FOC (Fans of Cliff), who checked in with Mott daily during his final year.

ENJOYING SIMPLE PLEASURES

Mott was born in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1923, and at age 4, he moved to Tampa, where his grandparents raised him following his parents鈥� divorce. Like many children of the Depression, he grew up with limited financial means. 鈥淒irt poor would be an understatement,鈥� said Stidham.

Lacking creature comforts, Mott knew the value of relationships and experiences that transcend price tags. 鈥淵ou never saw Cliff too often without his love, Mary,鈥� recalled Sant. An avid hunter, Mott routinely spent up to a week at a time living out of a trailer and hunting deer, always with Mary by his side.

The couple also shared a love for travel, which took them all over the world. Preferring authentic experiences to luxury vacations, they flew using passes from Mary鈥檚 job at an airline and stayed with locals whenever possible.听 On one trip to Italy, the couple stayed with a restaurant owner in exchange for helping his daughter learn English. This type of thing wasn鈥檛 unusual, as Mott had a gift for making friends overseas, said George Menden, his estate attorney and a Fan of Cliff.

Mott also had a love for music that endured through his lifetime. Starting with trumpet, coronet and French horn in high school, he played with the Masonic band at parades, charities and senior homes well into his later years.

A COMMITMENT TO SERVICE

After the U.S. entered World War II, Mott volunteered for the Army, where he flew combat missions. Following his discharge, he earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in business at 葫芦影业ampa, married Mary and began his 40-year career with Sears.

Barely settled into civilian life, Mott was recalled to service in 1950. As a member of the Air Force in the Korean War, he refurbished and tested 鈥渕othballed鈥� planes to ensure they were flight-ready. While it may not sound nearly as dangerous as flying fighter jets, Mott risked his life multiple times, narrowly escaping burning planes, emergency landings and even a sabotage operation.

Mott鈥檚 sense of duty extended to his service as a Mason (albeit, minus the adrenaline). As a Master Mason and a member of two lodges in Atlanta, his home since 1964, 鈥淐liff was constantly active with Masonic organizations and very well respected among his Masonic brothers,鈥� said Menden.

His many contributions included serving on the boards of several orphanages, helping with Shrine Circus children鈥檚 hospital fundraisers and participating in Scottish Rite Freemasonry, where he was awarded the distinguished 33rd degree for his exemplary services to 鈥渢he Scottish Rite, Freemasonry and society.鈥�

PAYING IT FORWARD听

To make ends meet as a student at 葫芦影业ampa, Mott worked as a welder and a pipefitter after classes. Once he graduated, he shelved his dream of becoming a doctor, probably because he couldn鈥檛 afford to attend medical school, his friends said. So he entered the workforce and continued to invest in the stock market, a pastime which he鈥檇 started at 18 and continued until the very end.

No stranger to financial hardship, Mott never took his 葫芦影业ampa diploma for granted. 鈥淭he education he got changed his life,鈥� said Stidham. 鈥淭he only thing Cliff valued more highly than education was God.鈥�

Once Mott was in a position to give, he wanted to support his alma mater. 鈥淗e remembered all his life what it was like to be a poor student at 葫芦影业ampa, so his first significant gift was a book fund,鈥� which he established in 1996 to help students cover textbook costs, said Sant.

Subsequent gifts included a marine biology research fund, scholarships designated for nursing and physician assistant students, a general endowed scholarship and general endowment fund.

Thanks to the Mott estate, nearly 100 students have received scholarships, and countless more will benefit from the endowments in the years ahead. Though Mott鈥檚 lifestyle was simple, his legacy of caring and generosity 鈥� and his love for the Spartan community 鈥� is striking.