Roy L. Clay Sr.
The black godfather of Silicon Valley
Computer Programmer, Entrepreneur
Many of you may have heard of Hewlett-Packard or HP. The company that is known for its printers and Personal Computers. Well, meet Roy L. Clay Sr. the man who built HP's first marketed computer. Clay started out as a school teacher after in 1951 he received his degree in Mathematics from St. Louis University. In 1956, Clay got a job programming IBM and Burroughs computers in the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation (now McDonnell Douglass). At the time, teaching school was about the best job an African American could get. Back in those days Universities didn't offer Computer Science degrees so Mathematics graduates were hired for programing and software development. In 1958, Clay went on to work as a computer programmer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory where he wrote software that demonstrated how radiation particles would spread after a above ground nuclear explosions and then in 1962 he worked as a software engineer for Control Data Corporation where he developed software languages for Control Data computers.
It was in 1965 when Roy Clay got a position as the software development manager and lead developer for the HP 2116A; HP's first marketed computer, the first mini-computer and it was the second 16-bit computer to hit the market after Honeywell's DDP-116. Not only did he lead the team that created the computer he also wrote the software that ran it. Unlike other computers at the time that filled up a whole room, the HP 2116A was about the size of a small under-the-counter refrigerator. The first HP-2116 was bought by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and was used aboard a research vessel. Even in the harsh conditions of being on a ship like salt in the air and constant temperature changes, the computer lasted more than 10 years!
Clay became the first director of the HP Research and Development Computer group that worked to promote HP's computer division. He wanted an environment that would promote creativity so his workers day began with a round of golf at daybreak and at 9:00 a.m. they came into to HP and stayed until the work was done. Wonder if he would let me start the day off with a round of Call of Duty on Xbox? Ok, anyway, with his positions at HP, he helped other minorities have successful careers in the tech industry. He broke down barriers for African Americans in technology by recruiting and developing talent and paving the way for the next generation of black technology innovators giving him the monarch, the black godfather of Silicon Valley.
The black godfather of Silicon Valley's guidance lead to the initial funding of popular Computer companies like Intel, Compaq, Tandem and many other successes in Silicon valley. Along with helping those companies Clay started his on company Rod-L Electronic the hipot and electrical-safety test equipment manufacturer; named by his wife after their two sons. Here he invented the first electronic equipment safety testing device to be certified by Underwriters Laboratory (UL). In the mid 1970's Clay learned that UL was going to require electrical safety tests on electrical products to make sure that they would not shock or cause a fire. The ROD-L tester was placed at the end of HP, IBM, AT&T and Xerox production lines. The tester is still the standard to this day. Look at the back of your computer, you can see the UL safety sticker and information. Not only computers but the tester is used on everything from dishwashers to pacemakers. Clay is still the CEO of ROD-L. Check out the company website here!
On top of all this he has been a vital part of his community. In honor of his wife he founded the Virginia Clay / Unity Care Annual Golf classic to promote the success for young minorities. Proceeds fund the Unity Care Groups Pre-College Minority Engineering program that encourages minorities to build technology projects. He also lead the Girls' Club of the Mid Peninsula tht helps girls reach their full potential and JobTrain that helps take personal motivations into marketable skills that make higher self-sufficiency and self Esteem. Also, he was the first non-Caucasian to serve on the Palo Alto City
Council and he was the first African American Vice Mayor from 1976-1977.
I'm going to make you an offer you can't refuse.... Know Your History
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