Robert Edward Clay (June 25, 1875 – June 23, 1961) was an American educator. He was the state agent for Rosenwald schoolsinTennessee and the director of the Sunday School at Tennessee State University. He is the namesake of the R. E. Clay Education Building on the TSU campus.
Among other prominent African Americans trained by the Treasury Department to sell war bonds
Clay was the state agent for Rosenwald schoolsinTennessee from 1917 to 1937.[1] During his tenure, he helped build 501 Rosenwald schools.[4] From 1937 to 1955, he was the state developer of Negro education.[1] Clay was also an advisor to Tennessee State University's presidents William J. Hale and Walter S. Davis, and he led its Sunday school.[3]
Clay married Obelia M. Goins; they had a son, Hairston Clay.[1] Clay died on June 23, 1961, in Nashville, Tennessee, at 86.[1] His funeral was held in TSU's auditorium.[1] In 1968, the R. E. Clay Education Building on the TSU campus was named in his honor.[3][4]
^ abLovett, Bobby L."Robert E. Clay". Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture. Tennessee Historical Society and the University of Tennessee Press. Retrieved June 24, 2019.
