Robert Milligan Mountcastle, a member of the Oklahoma bar since June, 1912, and now filling the office of United States commissioner, to which he was appointed in 1919, comes to this state from Tennessee, his birth having occurred March 17, 1888, in Jefferson City, Jefferson county.
His parents were W. H. and Maude C. (Milligan) Mountcastle and while spending his youthful days in their home he was accorded liberal educational privileges, becoming a student in the Carson Newman College, from which he was graduated with the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1908. During his college days he took a most active interest in athletics, was a member of the track team, the basketball, football, baseball and tennis teams during each of the four years of his college course and served as captain of the baseball, football and basketball teams for one year. His interest in athletics did not exclude steady progression in his studies, resulting in a most creditable record. He was made a member of the debating and oratorical team and was a member of the Columbian Literary Society.
In 1909 Mr. Mountcastle entered the law school of the University of Chicago and in the following year was elected to the Phi Alpha Delta, a law fraternity. He completed his course in 1912, being graduated with the degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence, and in June of the same year he was admitted to practice at the Oklahoma bar, of which he has since been a representative. While advancement in the law is proverbially slow, no dreary novitiate awaited him. He has made steady progress, his practice continually increasing in volume and importance, and in 1919 he was appointed United States commissioner in the Department of Justice.
Mr. Mountcastle has also taken an active interest in politics and in 1920 was elected the president of the Muskogee County Club of Young Democrats, while in the same year he was elected chairman of the Muskogee county democratic central committee.
The interruption to continuous professional service in the career of Mr. Mountcastle came when in the fall of 1917 he entered the army as a private for service in the World war and was on active duty overseas for thirteen months. He has become a leading member of the American Legion and in 1920 was elected district commander of the order. He was elected the first post commander of his post in 1918 and in 1921 was elected a member of the department executive committee. He is likewise a member of the executive committee of the State League of Young Democrats and his interest in local welfare is shown in his connection with the Chamber of Commerce.
Appreciative of the social amenities of life and recognizing the duties, obligations and privileges, he has become a Scottish Rite Mason and member of the Mystic Shrine, is also a member of the Bedouin Patrol and belongs to the Kiwanis Club. He is also a member of the Baptist church. Along strictly professional lines he has membership with the Muskogee Bar Association and the Oklahoma State Bar Association.