St. Louis broadcasting legend Clif St. James died Friday at St. Luke's Hospital after battling complications from pneumonia. He was 91 years old.
St. James was known as a weathercaster and the famous "Corky the Clown" here on Channel 5. He portrayed Corky from 1954 to 1980, and at the time, it was one of the highest-rated local children's shows in the country. It was also the first show in St. Louis to be broadcast in color.
Photos: Clif St. James
St. James first moved to St. Louis with his wife Nancy from Charleston, SC when he landed a job serving as KWK radio's movie reporter.
While in South Carolina, the St. Jameses worked on a radio show at WTMA. Within two years of moving to St. Louis, the couple had a sponsorship from Laclede Gas for the "Clif and Nancy" Show on KSD Radio. It's believed their show was the first-ever local program to feature a married couple as co-hosts.
Throughout his career, Clif St. James maintained a presence as a disc jockey on KSD radio.
St. James was inducted into the St. Louis Media Hall of Fame in 2014.
