Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr.

Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr.
Born November 11, 1912
Jefferson County, Kentucky, U.S.
Died February 8, 1990 (aged 77)
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Occupation Painter, musician
Spouse(s) Odessa Grady Clay (m. 1933–1990)
Children Rudy Clay (b. 1943)
Cassius Clay Jr. (b. 1942)
Parent(s) Herman H. Clay
Edith E. Greathouse

Cassius Marcellus Clay (November 11, 1912 – February 8, 1990) was the father of American three-time World Heavyweight Champion Muhammad Ali and Rudolph Valentino Clay, who is now named Rahman Ali, and also was the grandfather of Muhammad's daughter Laila Ali. He married Odessa Grady Clay in the 1930s and worked as a painter and a musician. He was described as "a handsome, mercurial, noisy, combative failed dreamer"[1] and a "hard-drinking, skirt-chasing dandy of a daddy".[2] His son, Muhammad Ali, described him as "the fanciest dancer in Louisville."[3]

Biography

Clay was born in Jefferson County, Kentucky, the son of Herman H. Clay (March, 1876 – February 1, 1954) and Edith E. Greathouse (December, 1890 – December 30, 1971[4]). He had a sister and four brothers, including Nathaniel Clay.[5][6] Clay's paternal grandparents were John Clay and Sallie Anne Clay; Clay's sister Eva quoted that Sallie was a native of Madagascar.[7]

Clay., painted billboards and signs.[8] He also played the piano. He was always interested in music, received piano lessons, and wrote music. He was named after the 19th-century abolitionist and Republican politician Cassius Marcellus Clay.[8] Around 1933 he married Odessa Grady.[9]

He was a heavy drinker, which led to several legal encounters for reckless driving, disorderly conduct, and assault and battery.[10] When asked in 1970 why he had not joined the Muslims as his son had, he said: "my religion is my talent, that which supports me."[11]

Clay died on February 8, 1990 after suffering a heart attack while leaving a department store in Jefferson County, Kentucky. He was 77 years old.[6]

Legacy

Clay., was portrayed by Arthur Adams in the 1977 film, The Greatest and by Giancarlo Esposito in the 2001 Oscar-nominated film Ali.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Lipsyte, Robert (March 7, 1971). "I Don't Have to Be What You Want Me to Be". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  2. ↑ "Ali". The Guardian (London). November 2, 2003. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  3. ↑ Lee Eisenberg. Fifty who made the difference. ISBN 0-394-53912-5.
  4. ↑ "Ancestry of Muhammad Ali".
  5. ↑ "Barber Can Relax Hair". Philadelphia Inquirer. October 15, 1997. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Cassius Marcellus Clay., Former Champion's Father, 77". Associated Press in the New York Times. February 10, 1990. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  7. ↑ Egerton (1991), p. 134
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "The Dream". Time magazine. March 22, 1963. Retrieved 2009-09-04. But the Clays have been there for six generations—ever since their ancestors worked first as slaves, then as farm laborers on the plantation of Cassius Marcellus Clay, who was Lincoln's Minister to Russia.
  9. ↑ Egerton, John (September 28, 1980). "Ali's Kentucky Roots". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  10. ↑ "Growing Up Scared in Louisville". Sports Illustrated. April 18, 1966. Retrieved 2009-09-04. More than once Odessa Clay had her husband brought into court for roughing her up. Cassius Sr. was also picked up for reckless driving, disorderly conduct, assault and battery, always after he had been drinking.... [He] "isn't a criminal or even an evil man. He's just a frustrated little guy who can't drink. He never served any time and he never will."
  11. ↑ "Words of the week". Jet magazine. November 12, 1970. Retrieved 2009-09-04.
  12. ↑ "Ali (2001)". The Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2009-09-04.

Sources

External links