Claytie: The Roller-Coaster Life of a Texas Wildcatter

By Mike Cochran

The native son of a distinguished West Texas family and a 1954 graduate of Texas A&M whose career and personal pursuits have ranged from farmer to insurance salesman to wildcatter, pipeline entrepreneur, rancher, banker, real estate mogul, big game hunter, conservationist, philanthropist, front-running gubernatorial candidate, and oil tycoon, Clayton W. Williams Jr. is by all measures one of a kind. 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.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1585446343
• ISBN13: 9781585446346
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
• Length: 446 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.3" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

The best book I've ever read!!

Claytie is the best book I've ever read. his life and beliefs are so parallel to mine it is scary. We even have the same birhday. Claytie's no BS West Texas demeanor really shows through and you get a sense of what the man stands for and how he reacts to different situations.

An inside look that will change your mind

Clayton Williams has let Mike Cochran tell all in this interesting, humorous and sometimes sad book about his life. Williams is equally candid about his successes and failures. Clayton Williams has taught in the classroom at Texas A & M University and any young entrepreneur or student would benefit from the lessons lived on the pages of this book. This man has made millions from nothing...over and over again! If you enjoy reading about Texas politics, self-made millionaires or just an interesting non-fiction read about a real-life character, this story is for you.

This Book is Worth The Read

Holy Cow. This man has made more and lost more than most people will ever have! He started with $2,000, built the first DIGITAL long distance network in America, ran for Texas Governor and still loves to raise cattle - where he started. I loved the Book. Mike Cochran says he wrote the story "painfully honest." I think it is painfully funny and is full of lessons a young person really needs to read. Good job - great book. I'm buying more for Christmas Gifts.

Claytie

Very good book and worth the reading. I think anyone can enjoy this one. Gig'em Aggies! Stormy Kimrey '58

I've Worked For Him

Many of the stories I've heard. Many were much less detailed than what I lived. Overall, a wonderful book about business and life. Clayton is a better than average man. In all areas of his being.