Troy "Zeke" Clevenger

Born November 10, 1902

Died April 25, 1931

Troy "Zeke" Clevenger was on duty when two bandits feeing from a Richmond robbery were forced to stop at the intersection of Main and Washington Streets in Winchester. Chief Clevenger walked up to the vehicle and asked where they were going. One of the bandits, Lawrence Shenk, got out of the vehicle and shot Chief Clevenger. Although severely wounded, Chief Clevenger was able to shoot the bandit before he collapsed to the ground. The other bandit, Robert Hamilton, put the car in gear and took off. Hamilton drove out of town and wrecked the car in a wheat field north of Winchester. A farmer gave him a ride back to Winchester, where he caught a bus to Muncie. He stayed there until being caught.

Chief Clevenger was rushed to the Randolph County Hospital by Sheldon Downing, who witnessed the tragic incident. He died shortly after arriving at the hospital. Shenk was enroute to the hospital by ambulance and died on the way. He was taken to Summers Funeral Home and later placed in a vault at Fountain Park Cemetery until he could be claimed by family members. Funeral services were held for Chief Clevenger at Main Street Christian Church. It was reportedly "the most largely attended funeral ever held in Winchester." Police departments from Muncie, Richmond, Portland, Union City, Big Four Detectives, local Fire Departments, City and County Officials, and Boy Scouts attended. Chief Clevenger was survived by his wife, Donna Almeda (VanNote) Clevenger, and their 7 year old son.

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