Roy Clay Sr., a prominent Black figure in the tech world whose impact spanned almost fifty years in Silicon Valley, passed away on Sunday at the age of 95.

Clay, a resident of Oakland, California, had been facing health issues for a while. His family confirmed the news of his passing.

A celebrated technologist, Clay played a vital role in the evolution of personal computers and was integral to the success of Hewlett-Packard, one of the biggest names in technology.

He was also recognized for challenging racial inequalities in a predominantly white industry, earning the title “godfather of Silicon Valley” for his efforts in bringing diverse talent, including science and math graduates from historically Black colleges, into the field.

“He should be remembered as a key early figure who helped put Silicon Valley on the map,” said Ken Coleman, a veteran in the tech industry, in an interview with YSL News. “He was a brilliant technical mind and an incredibly kind person − an exemplary professional and a dedicated community member.”

For much of his life, Clay represented a largely unrecognized generation of influential Black Americans – individuals whose crucial contributions to the tech industry often went unnoticed, unlike many other well-documented Silicon Valley leaders whose correspondences and documents are carefully preserved in history.

Thus, Clay undertook the mission to document his remarkable journey from a humble upbringing in an all-Black town during the Jim Crow era to becoming a prominent figure in the tech industry. He published a memoir in 2022 titled “Unstoppable: The Unlikely Story of a Silicon Valley Godfather,” co-written with his sons and biographer M.H. Jackson.

Emphasizing his milestones, Clay often quoted Ralph Waldo Emerson, saying, “I went where there was no path and left a new trail.”

From Humble Beginnings to Silicon Valley Success

Clay was born on August 22, 1929, in Missouri, where his father worked in building maintenance within an electrical company, and his mother was a seamstress. He was one of nine siblings.

His mother instilled in him the value of education, telling him, “With education, you own something that can’t be taken away.”

Clay did his homework by candlelight until his father learned to install electrical wiring by observing others. The family didn’t have running water or a toilet until he turned 12.

He excelled in a two-room schoolhouse intended for Black students in the Ferguson school district and even applied his math skills to manage a craps game, which led to him being caught by a teacher while playing dice in the gym.

“I always had a bit of a hustler’s spirit and believed I could outsmart almost anyone with my math and analytical skills,” he shared in his memoir.

Clay was among the pioneering Black Americans to graduate from a previously all-white college or university in a former slave state, obtaining a degree in mathematics from St. Louis University. He later interviewed for an engineering position at McDonnell Aircraft Manufacturing in St. Louis, but was turned away for being a “professional Negro” when he arrived in a black suit and tie.

Undeterred, Clay’s persistence led him to continue applying until he landed a job as a computer programmer at McDonnell in 1956, joking that he “brought a little color” to their weekly staff meetings.

Two years later, in 1958, Clay moved to California and began working at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, where he developed radiation tracking software to analyze the aftermath of a nuclear explosion.

“I was no longer the poor little Black kid from a segregated town in the Midwest. I was breaking new ground in a technology field and achieving remarkable things,” he reflected in his memoir. “If only my friends back home at the pool hall could see me now.”

Breaking Barriers at Hewlett-Packard

Believing in the potential for computers to become smaller, faster, and cheaper, Clay was eager to be part of their development from the beginning.

After working at Control Data Corp., co-founder David Packard recruited Clay in 1965 to establish the computer division at Hewlett-Packard. Clay was instrumental in creating the HP 2116A, HP’s first minicomputer.

When building his team, Clay prioritized hiring individuals from the inaugural graduating class of Stanford University’s computer science program, and he was one of the first to seek talent from historically Black colleges and universities, including Morehouse College.

Even in the innovative environment of Silicon Valley, Clay was recognized for his creativity. He was one of the pioneers in introducing flexible work schedules to accommodate employees, driven largely by his love for golfing before work.

Clay’s “flex-time” policy gained traction within the industry. He noted, “I began receiving calls from many professionals seeking new opportunities, simplifying the process of attracting top talent.” He further remarked in his memoir, “Eventually, flexible hours became part of HP’s culture, as I discovered from an article stating that HP had invented ‘flextime’ long after my departure.”

Enrique Lores, CEO of HP, praised Clay as an exceptional leader in a statement to YSL News. “From being the chief architect of the first HP minicomputer to being the first African American executive at HP, he was a long-standing innovator in tech and a champion for the community. We are thankful for his impactful leadership and the legacy he leaves behind in both HP and the tech industry as a whole.”

From being the lead developer of the first HP minicomputer to the first African-American executive at HP, he was a longtime tech innovator and community champion.

Enrique Lores, CEO of HP

Transitioning to Venture Capital and Local Politics

When Clay departed HP in 1971 to launch a consulting business, he was tapped by one of the leading venture capital firms, Kleiner Perkins, for his keen investment insights. His recommendations led to the establishment of key tech companies, such as Intel and Compaq, which have greatly influenced Silicon Valley’s landscape.

Clay’s strong entrepreneurial instincts led him to recognize a market gap in safety devices. He established ROD-L Electronics, a company manufacturing electrical safety test equipment, making it one of the few tech companies in Silicon Valley that was founded by a Black American and one of the largest employers of Black professionals. Clay emphasized that having a diverse workforce created a competitive advantage.

Clay didn’t stop there; he also broke new ground in local politics.

In 1973, Clay made history as the first Black American to be elected to the Palo Alto City Council and later served as vice mayor. He often handed out his business card to those who mistook him for a driver or questioned his presence in the vicinity of council meetings or parking areas designated for council members.

“I believed that would help them remember that I was indeed part of the council,” he said.

“Now, a Black man is sitting on the city council,” he stated.

According to Clay’s family, he was motivated by strong core values such as education, family, and a relentless work ethic. These values were instilled in him by his late wife, Virginia, who passed away from cancer in 1995, and his mother, who consistently encouraged him to not let racism or discrimination deter him.

‘I continue to dream of a brighter future’

An enthusiastic golfer, Clay made history in 1987 by becoming the first Black member of the private Olympic Club in San Francisco. When he returned home, he discovered a message on his answering machine. “Don’t you dare show your Black face at the Olympic Club or your whole family is dead,” an anonymous caller threatened, using a racial epithet.

“After that death threat, I really thought about giving up my membership. It was one of those moments in my life when I felt overwhelmed and not strong enough to endure. I had encountered so much racism, and I guess it was finally taking its toll,” Clay wrote in his memoir. “When I told Virginia I was going to decline the membership, she stopped in her tracks, turned around, and in her unmistakable tone of anger and frustration said, ‘Wasn’t Jackie Robinson your hero? Did he walk away from the Dodgers?’”

Upon being elected to the board of the club, Clay’s photograph was proudly displayed alongside other directors in the clubhouse. However, shortly after, his picture went missing.

“This incident opened many members’ eyes to the racism I faced daily, regardless of the title I held,” Clay recalled.

In a gesture of solidarity, another member of the club removed all the other photographs as well, stating: “If Roy’s picture is coming down, then all the others need to come down too.”

When Clay was honored with induction into the Silicon Valley Engineering Council Hall of Fame in 2003, he referred to it as his “Mount Rushmore moment.” Despite his many accomplishments, he felt disheartened by the slow progress in race relations throughout his life.

“While I may be old now, I still hold onto dreams and aspirations for a brighter future,” Clay expressed in his memoir. “That said, my children and grandchildren have the same determination I had in the ’50s and ’60s – nothing will stop them from reaching their dreams.”

Clay is survived by his sons Roy Jr., Rodney, and Chris; daughter-in-law Iris Clay; grandchildren Connor and Cameron Clay; and his sister Myrtle Bridges.

A lifelong advocate for disadvantaged youth, the family requests that instead of flowers, donations be made in Roy Clay Sr.’s memory to Fostering Promise, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing youth homelessness among former foster children.

An event to honor Clay is set for October 29 at Stanford University.