Tom Rowland served as the May of Cleveland, TN for 26 years. He was elected in 1991 after running on the slogan “In Touch” and retired from the position in 2017. Before his terms as mayor, Rowland was a broadcast journalist, a radio station owner, and an on-air personality.

He was born in Safety Harbor, FL before moving to Cleveland to work at WCLE, a local station. He broke several national news stories ranging from the shooting of a Sheriff to interviewing a prisoner of war who returned home to Tennessee after serving in Vietnam, and what he considers his biggest break, the story of a hijacked plane that flew over Oak Ridge.

During his terms as mayor, Rowland was instrumental in helping Cleveland to grow and looking after the best interests of the city. Some of his accomplishments include signing the Crime Bill in 1994 at the white house, building an airport, and constructing the Museum Center at 5ive Points. One dream he was unable to see accomplished so far is the construction of a passenger rail line in Cleveland.

Though Mayor Emeritus Rowland has officially retired, he is still active in our community.

There will be a Mayor Emeritus Rowland exhibit added to the permanent exhibits the Museum Center at 5ive Points.