Charles E. Claggett ’31

Charlie Claggett, '31's class agent, died, as neatly as he had lived, of a heart attack at the bridge table Jan. 8, 1998, in Vero Beach, Fla. His classmates at Princeton and at St. Louis Country Day (including the memorialist, for 11 years), his many friends, and his family will miss him sorely.

Crippled by polio, forced to walk with a cane from childhood, Charlie never whined or bemoaned his bad luck but charged ahead with good humor and a winsome smile to do his share (and then some) of the world's work. He was business manager of some Country Day teams, and at Princeton, because of the great strength of his arms and upper body, became a star on the flying rings, the rope climb, and other field events, and coxswain of eight-oared shells.

After graduation, Charlie went to work at Gardner Advertising Co. in St. Louis, and rose from copywriter to president and C.E.O., building the agency from an annual billing of some $3 million to $65 million by 1968, when he retired.

Charlie had married Mary Boyle, who died in 1943, and Blanche Fischel, who died in 1978. He is survived by three sons, Charles E. Jr., Daniel E., and Thomas F., by his daughter, Blanche C. Wagner, and 12 grandchildren.

The Class of 1931