Lucius D. Clay

Lucius Dubignon Clay (April 23 1897 - April 16 1978) was an American general. He is considered the "father" of the Berlin Airlift (1948-49). He was the son of Senator Alexander Stephens Clay of Marietta, who served in the U.S. Senate from 1897 to 1910.

Related Topics:
April 23 - 1897 - April 16 - 1978 - American - Berlin Airlift - 1948 - 49 - Alexander Stephens Clay - U.S. Senate - 1910

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Clay was from Marietta, Georgia (near Atlanta), which named one of its major streets "Clay Street" in honor of his work in creating what is now Dobbins Air Force Base there. While now called South Marietta Parkway (Georgia State Highway 120 Loop), it still carries memorial signs at each end dedicating the highway to him.

Related Topics:
Marietta - Georgia - Atlanta - Dobbins Air Force Base - Georgia State Highway 120 - Memorial - Highway

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Clay graduated from West Point in 1918 and was assigned to the Corps of Engineers. Prior to World War II, he was in charge of the civilian airport construction project. During the war, Clay was Assistant Chief of Staff in Material Service and Supply. In 1945, he was deputy to General Dwight D. Eisenhower. The following year, he was made Deputy Governor of Germany during the Allied Military Goverment. In 1947, he was made theater commander and Governor of Germany.

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In 1947, Clay asked Lewis H. Brown to research and write "A Report on Germany," which served as a detailed recommendation for the reconstruction of post-war Germany, and served as a basis for the Marshall Plan.

Related Topics:
1947 - Lewis H. Brown - A Report on Germany - Reconstruction - Marshall Plan

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After Clay retired from the military, he went into politics and served several presidents.

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In 1954, he was called upon by U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, to help forge a plan for financing the proposed Interstate highway system. He had previous experience in 1933 with managing and organizing projects under the New Deal, and later became one of Eisenhower's closest advisors.

Related Topics:
1954 - U.S. President - Dwight D. Eisenhower - Financing - Interstate highway - 1933 - New Deal - Advisor

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During the Berlin Wall crisis in 1961, President John F. Kennedy asked him to be an advisor and to go to Berlin and report on the situation.

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Berlin, Germany named one of its streets "Clayallee" in his honor.

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