University of Vermont Athletics

Gary D. Clairmont 1953 - Baseball, Basketball, Football

If any one athlete at UVM epitomized true grit, it was Gary Clairmont. This quality was celebrated with an induction into the UVM Hall of Fame in 1987. His dedication and team spirit also served him well as a U.S. Air Force pilot, earning several medals during the Vietnam Campaign, including the Bronze Star.

A three-sport letterman at UVM in football, basketball and baseball, he particularly excelled on the baseball field as a starting outfielder and infielder. His versatility was also evident on the gridiron where he was one of the team's top running backs (led the team in rushing yardage his senior year) and a favorite target of UVM Hall of Famer Bob Deacon's "long bombs". Very durable on the gridiron, Clairmont played the entire 60 minutes in many games. Clairmont also lettered in basketball in the 1950-51 season, and during his sophomore year he fought in the Vermont State Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament, further proof of his versatility.

Always a leader, he also served his fraternity (Kappa Sigma) as an officer and was a member of ROTC for four years. Following graduation, Clairmont entered the U.S. Air Force where he served with distinction as a Command Pilot, until retiring in 1974, with the rank of Major. In addition to his Bronze Star, Clairmont also received the Air Medal and the Air Force's Commendation Medal for landing his six-engine B-52 gear-up in fire suppression foam, incurring minimal damage to the plane and no injuries to the crew. Clairmont was a pilot with the Bristol-Myers Company for many years while residing with his wife, Maria, in Brookfield, Conn. They have two sons, Gary and Craig, and one daughter, Lori. Clairmont passed away in 2003.