Claytie: The Roller-Coaster Life of a Texas Wildcatter

He has repeatedly been on the Forbes list of the 400 wealthiest Americans, yet more than once Claytie has also been on the verge of bankruptcy. This authorized biography captures the dimensions of his fascinating life: his determined work ethic and honesty; his passionate interests and rough-hewn style; his devotion to wife and constant companion Modesta and family; his all-in wildcatter bets and integrity-above-all payoff of debts; his patented gaffes in the "wildest, woolliest Texas governor's race ever" and their spotlighted consequences for the state and nation; and running through it all, both unrestrained celebrations and knees-on-the-ground repentance.

His many notable successes, his most admirable traits, as well as his most outrageous flaws are all portrayed in this book, often in Claytie's own words or in the extensive comments, revealing anecdotes, and first-person accounts of others, supplemented by family and business documents, as well as contemporary journalistic records.

This book tells it all, revealing one distinctive maverick who has left his boot prints all across Texas for 75 years.

Claytieisms

The wit and wisdom of Clayton W. Williams Jr.

"I ran my company like Christopher Columbus. When he left Spain, he didn't know where he was going. When he got here, he didn't know where he was. When he got back, he didn't know where he'd been. And he did it all on borrowed money."

"You can be a man of achievement and not be an arrogant snoot. . . . If I had to choose, I'd be on Bubba's side. Hell, I am Bubba!"