Former Judge, Hoops Star Dead at 85

Charles Cecil Clair, a former County Judge Executive and well-known businessman, died on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the Kentucky River Medical Center after a long illness.

He was 85.

Clair, the son of the late Ervine and Ida Mae (Spicer) Clair, is survived by his wife, Sue (Day) Clair, two daughters, and many other descendants. 

Clair served as Breathitt County Judge Executive in 1988 and again from 1990 to 1993.

As a young man, Clair grew tall and excelled at basketball.  He was known as the anchor of the team as early as 1956 when he was the “big boy” in the center of the Big Rock basketball team that dominated county play.

He graduated in 1960 from Breathitt High School, where he became known for his round ball skills as one of “Fairce’s Boys.”  Clair, listed as 6’4“, anchored the Woods teams for three years and averaged nearly 30 points per game for much of his career.   

The Second Team Courier-Journal All-State center led the Breathitt High School Bobcats to two Sweet Sixteen Tournaments (1959 and 1960) and played for the 1960 East-West All-Stars.

In 1961, he joined the Morehead State University team, where he played under Coach Bobby Laughlin.  While paying for the Eagles, Clair received significant interest and several NBA teams scouted him, but he chose to return to Breathitt County with his young family.

He started his business career in Jackson as the owner and operator of Clair’s Service Station.

He worked for several years at Jett’s IGA Superliner in the Jett’s Shopping Center Complex on Highway 15 and occasionally sold used cars while working at the store.

Clair was hired as the junior varsity basketball coach in 1967 under Coaches Bruce Springate and, later, coached as an assistant for Don R. Burton.

In 1972, Clair served as co-treasurer for the fund drive and effort to establish a football team at Breathitt High School.  He would continue to support Bobcat sports throughout his lifetime.

Clair purchased several trucks and started Enterprise Crushed Stone & Sand, a gravel hauling business, and supplied many loads of rock to the Breathitt County Fiscal Court.

He was instrumental in the construction of the Middle Kentucky River Medical Center at Jackson and sold the land to the corporation, ensuring the hospital’s construction.

Following the death of G. V. “Doc” Turner, Clair was appointed Breathitt County Judge Executive on March 29, 1988, by Governor Wallace Wilkinson, and served until a special election in November 1988.  In May 1989, he ran for County Judge Executive and defeated incumbent Nim Henson by 319 votes.  He was sworn into office on January 1, 1990, and left on December 31, 1993, following the 1993 election.

Throughout his career, Clair and his wife, Sonia Sue (Jett) Clair, worked to develop numerous commercial businesses, rental properties, trailer parks, and other enterprises along Highway 15, which he called the “new road.”

He was a member of Breathitt Lodge #649 and Oleika Shrine in Lexington.  He was a former member of the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, the Jackson Lions Club, and the Jackson Jaycees.

The funeral for Cecil Clair was conducted on Tuesday, February 16. 

He was buried in the Clair Family Cemetery on Coomer Fork in Lee County.