Black History is infinity ➰ Roy L. Clay Sr. helped build the foundations of modern computing at a moment when both the technology industry—and the country—were deciding who would be allowed to shape the future. Raised in Kinloch, Missouri, one of the nation’s earliest incorporated Black cities just outside St. Louis, Clay learned early that access was never guaranteed and that progress required technical excellence, discipline, and persistence. In the mid-1960s, Clay joined Hewlett-Packard, where he became a founding member of the company’s computer division. He led the software team behind HP’s first computer, the HP 2116A, introduced in 1966—work that helped move computing out of research labs and into practical, scalable use across industry and government. This was foundational work. Before personal computers became widespread. Before enterprise systems became standard. Clay was helping define how machines process information—reliably, repeatedly, and at scale. His impact extended beyond engineering. In 1973, he founded ROD-L Electronics, a Black-owned technology company producing electrical-safety test equipment—among the first in its category to achieve UL certification. At a time when ownership in Silicon Valley was tightly constrained, Clay built a company centered on standards, accountability, and long-term value. That same year, he entered public service, becoming the first Black member of the Palo Alto City Council, later serving as vice mayor—bringing technical expertise into civic leadership at the center of a rapidly growing technology economy. Reflecting on his career in his memoir, Unstoppable: The Unlikely Story of the Silicon Valley Godfather, Clay wrote, “I wasn’t trying to be first. I was trying to make sure the work got done.” That principle defined his career. ➰ From Kinloch, Missouri to Silicon Valley, his work still powers the systems we rely on every day. This is what it looks like when legacy becomes infrastructure. 📍 Follow along this month as we continue honoring the builders, the breakthroughs, and what comes next.