Clair Mayes
1951 · Round 8 · Pick 95 · G · Chicago Bears
Clair Mayes played G at Oklahoma and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in round 8, pick 95, of the 1951 draft. Note: there is no Wikipedia article on him. Pro Football Reference has no player page for him. This bio covers his draft record plus SoonerStats roster data. SoonerStats lists him on OU's roster for 1950 SR RG. SoonerStats gives his full name as Clair S. Mayes. It gives his hometown as Muskogee, OK and his high school as Central. Pro Football Archives lists him as a letterman at Oklahoma in 1948, 1949 and 1950. It gives his birth as August 12, 1929 Muskogee, OK. It records his death as April 15, 2010 Amarillo, TX. A 1983 Oklahoman list of the state's great linemen gives his hometown as Muskogee. A 1995 Daily Oklahoman history names him among the linemen, with Leon Manley, Stan West, Norman McNabb and Dee Andros, who were "opening the holes" for the Sooners. The Daily Oklahoman wrote on September 8, 1949 (NewsBank page 37): "The line included Bobby Goad and Jim Owens at ends, Wade Walker and Leon Manley at tackles, Dee Andros and Clair Mayes at guards and Bob Bodenhamer at center."
Sources
https://soonersports.com/sports/2019/8/13/208798496 | https://soonerstats.com/football/players/details.cfm?playerid=998 | https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/m/maye00830.html | The Oklahoman, August 28, 1983, "State Schools Produce Great Linemen, Too" (via NewsBank) | The Daily Oklahoman, August 27, 1995, "Sooner Century: 100 Years of OU Football" (via NewsBank) | The Daily Oklahoman, September 8, 1949, NewsBank page 37 (via NewsBank Oklahoman Collection, scanned page)