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A Memoir · 2026

Dream Big:

The Roy Clay Story

Get ready for a wild ride from small-town dreams to Silicon Valley superhero in Dream Big: The Roy Clay Sr. Story. Join young Roy Clay as he blasts off from Kinloch, Missouri, with a head full of big ideas and a knack for math that launches him into the tech world, where he’ll make history.

But hold on tight because Roy’s journey is full of twists and turns. He faces bullies, bounces back from crazy injuries, and tackles challenges with the help of his awesome family, friends, and mentors. And guess what? All that hard work pays off when Roy lands a job at McDonnell Aircraft, crushes it at Lawrence Livermore Labs, and then—get this—leads the team that builds Hewlett-Packard’s first-ever computer! No wonder they call him The Godfather of Silicon Valley.

Buckle up as Roy’s sons, Rodney and Roy Jr., take you behind the scenes of their dad’s thrilling, sometimes challenging, but always surprising rise to success. You’ll uncover the mind-blowing stories that made Roy a tech legend and a Silicon Valley Hall of Fame engineer, alongside Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard (HP), Steve Wozniak (Apple), Gordon Moore, and Bob Noyce (Intel), from his never-give-up attitude to his Ground breaking ideas, including one of the earliest visions of artificial intelligence.

But here’s the thing: Dream Big isn’t just Roy’s story; it’s a dare for all readers, young and old, to dream big, tackle challenges head-on, and reach for the stars. So, are you ready to join Roy Clay’s epic adventure and see what’s possible when you believe in yourself? Let’s go.

About the Authors Rodney Clay and Roy Clay Jr. bring their dad’s story to life with rich details and insider insights into Roy’s unstoppable journey, along with a never-before-read surprise ending as told exclusively by Rodney and Roy Jr. Their love and pride for their father’s legacy make Dream Big a story you won’t forget, inspiring dreamers everywhere. It is a fantastic story for readers of all ages!

“He didn’t just build computers. He built doors — and held them open for everyone who came after.”

— Roy Jr. and Rodney Clay