- Name
- Claire St John
- Position
- Forward
- Class
- SR
- Seasons
- 1903-04
- Birthday
- December 24, 1882
Claire St. John was born Claire Porter St. John on December 24, 1882, in Brooklyn, New York to Joseph Lancaster and Jessie (Porter) St. John. He attended Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania then transferred to Kentucky where he received a degree in mechanical engineering on June 9, 1904.
He played for Kentucky’s football, baseball, and basketball teams in 1903-1904. He completed his senior thesis on “A Study of the Development of Electric Railways.”
St. John was drowned August 26, 1905, while canoeing down the Ohio. Late at night his party of three went over a dam, which they mistook for the lock on account of the darkness, and the canoe was upset. Claire could easily have escaped, as he was a strong swimmer, if he had not been swept under two empty coal barges, which were, unfortunately, being towed up the river just at that time. He was a great athlete in college, having played on the football, baseball, and basketball teams as well as having won the mile championship in the college games. He was a most popular fellow and had just begun a very promising career.
