Herman Heaton Clay was the father of Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr., an American painter, and musician. He was also the grandfather of heavyweight boxer Rahaman and his brother Muhammad Ali. Muhammad Ali was a professional boxer and activist nicknamed The Greatest for being one of the most significant sports figures of the 20th century. Ali is still regarded as the greatest heavyweight boxer in history. This article will give a more detailed account of Herman H. Clay, his children, and his grandchildren.
Herman H. Clay Bio
Herman Heaton Clay was born on 17 March 1876 in Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky. He was the son of John Henry Clay and Sarah (Frye) Clay. Herman had six siblings: Cassius Clay, Daniel Webster, John Henry, Thomas, Birdie Overton, and Beulah Clay. He married Edith Edean (Greathouse) Clay on 30 December 1909 in Louisville, Kentucky. The couple was blessed with several children.
Herman died aged 77 on 1 February 1954 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Herman H. Clay Children
Herman was the father of Everett Clay(1911-1941), Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr.(1912-1990), Bernard Clay (1914-1989), Eva Louise (Clay) Waddell (1915-2008), John Herman Clay (1917-1940), Coretta Clay (1918-1977), Betsy Jane Clay (1920-1950), George Levy Clay (1922-2011), Mary L. (Clay) Turner (1924-1976), William M. Clay (1925-1997), and Claude D. Clay 91926-2012).
Herman’s son Cassius Marcellus Clay Sr. became a painter and musician. He painted billboards and signs, played the piano, and wrote music. Marcellus married Odessa Lee O’Grady around 1933. They had two children: Muhammad Ali and Rahman Ali. they were the paternal grandparents of professional boxer Laila Ali, daughter of Muhammad Ali, and his third wife, Veronica. Herman was a heavy drinker and was constantly in trouble for reckless driving, disorderly conduct, assault, and battery,
Marcellus was described as a “hard-drinking, skirt-chasing dandy of a daddy,” and his son Muhammad described him as “the fanciest dancer in Louisville.” He died aged 77 in February 1990 after a heart attack in Kentucky. In his legacy, he was portrayed by Arthur Adams in the 1977 film The Greatest.
Herman H. Clay’s Grandchildren
Herman’s grandchildren, Muhammad Ali and Rahaman Ali became professional heavyweight champions. Rahman is the younger brother of Muhammad by 30 months. His birth name is Rudolph Valentino Clay. He had 18 fights, won 14 of them, lost three, and had one draw.
On the other hand, Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. on 17 January 1942. He was involved in a total of 61 fights, 56 of which he won. Muhammad’s nicknames were The Greatest, The People’s Champion, and The Louisville Lip. He became a Muslim after 1961.
Muhammad is the only three-time lineal heavyweight champion and the only six-time boxer named on The Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year. He was also one of only three boxers named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated.
Muhammad married four times. His first marriage to Sonji Roi in 1964 ended in 1966. He married Belinda Boyd in 1967 and divorced in 1977, then Veronica Porche later that year, whom he divorced in 1986. His fourth wife was Yolanda Williams. Muhammad was a father of 9, including Laila Ali.
Wrapping Up
The Clay family has come a long way and made their name in the history of boxing sports through Muhammad and his daughter Laila.
