James W. St. Clair was born in Charleston in 1935, and his family relocated to Huntington in 1937. He graduated from Huntington High School where he was elected Governor of West Virginia Mountaineers’ Boys State. Jim was also selected as captain of the West Virginia All-State Football Team and lettered in football (Academic All-American), and wrestling (National Wrestling Hall of Fame). He earned his BA in history from the University of Virginia and his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Virginia Law School.
St. Clair has served on the boards of First Huntington National Bank, ABA International Senior Lawyers Project, Senior Lawyers Division of West Virginia, West Virginia Bar Association, WVBA’s Executive Council and president of the West Virginia Board of Bar Examiners.
He was past president of the Huntington Symphony Orchestra and Greater Huntington Park & Recreation District. He has pursued many Huntington historical preservation projects, notably Heritage Village and the Coin Harvey House. His interest has been more than commercial projects, having converted the old Miller School property to a neighborhood park. He also rehabilitated the C.H. Freeman Estate and gave new life to the Masonic Temple Building.
St. Clair and his wife, Doris “Mickey” St. Clair, without whom, many of the projects would not be accomplished, have four children who all have graduated from the University of Virginia. He has assisted in the renovation of numerous residences in Huntington and served on several church committees.
He has travelled the world spreading law practice management techniques to Ukraine, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, South Africa, Botswana, Zambia and Costa Rica.
