"With Clayton Wheat Williams Jr., what you see is what you get, 
and then some, for he is many things to many people. . . ."—from 
the book

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.

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!"

_________________________________________________________

MIKE COCHRAN has covered many memorable news stories in 
Texas, often with the Associated Press, during the past four decades, 
such as the JFK assassination, the U.S. space program, and most 
statewide political campaigns, and he has earned several journalistic 
awards in the process. At their March, 2008, meeting, the Texas 
Associated Press Managing Editors Association presented to Mike 
Cochran the 2008 Jack Douglas Award for distinguished service and 
outstanding contributions to journalism in the state. He is the author 
of three previous books. 



What people are saying about this book

"Chapters on Claytie’s years as a young cowboy in a distinguished 
West Texas family, and on his adult business dealings make easy 
and entertaining reading. Overall a highly recommended biography."
—Gilmer Mirror

"As an 'authorized' biographer, Cochran spent four years and 
interviewed hundreds of people for this book. . . . Cochran gives 
Claytie a chance to comment when he disagrees with someone 
else’s version of a story, and leaves it up to the reader to decide 
who’s closer to the truth. . . . None of the stories detract from the 
picture Cochran paints of a quintessential Texas Aggie, a West 
Texan who values personal integrity and candor, who inspires 
loyalty in friends and employees and affection from his growing 
family."—The Gilmer Mirror, October 31, 2007

"Most recall West Texan 'Claytie' Williams Jr. as the candidate who, 
in losing the 1990 gubernatorial race to Ann Richards, shot himself 
in the foot more times than a centipede with a machine gun. But 
Mike Cochran's biography of the colorful oilfield wildcatter, rancher, 
banker, born entrepreneur—a page-turner reading more like an 
adventure novel—introduces the philanthropist, loyal friend, honest 
and sometimes soft-hearted side of the bar-room brawling, hard-
drinking, plain-cussing, fanatical Texas Aggie who has been a 
near-billionaire and also on the verge of bankruptcy in the boom-
or-bust oilpatch. Claytie's life might be a movie—except I think it 
was shot in the 1950s as Giant with James Dean playing the 
Claytie Williams role, though they called him Jett Rink. A good 
read, for Texans or others."—Larry L. King, author of The Best 
Little Whorehouse in Texas

"Claytie is quite the colorful man whose personality is bigger than 
the Permian Basin he hails from. George and I are both friends 
and fans of his."—Barbara Bush

"There is a forthrightness to this book that reflects Claytie's own 
basic honesty, his inimitable combination of straight talk, 
braggadocio, combativeness, and poking fun at himself."—Dave 
McNeely, author and dean of Texas political reporters

"Claytie Williams is a living symbol of the mythical larger-than-
life Texan, sometimes down but never out, willing to back his 
judgment on a Hail Mary pass, win, lose, or draw. He is one of 
the most affable people I have ever met."—Elmer Kelton, 
western novelist

"In Mike Cochran's perfect-pitch account of the quintessential 
Texas wildcatter, the colorful life and multiple personae of 
Claytie Williams stand out for their true grit and integrity. This is 
an extraordinary biography."—Davis Ford, adjunct professor of 
engineering, University of Texas, and past president of the 
Association of Former Students of Texas A&M University

"Clayton Williams lives life on a grand scale in this fast-moving, 
readable biography. Anyone interested in Texas history, 
petroleum history, or political history should enjoy this book."
—Joseph A. Pratt, Cullen Chair of History and Business, 
University of Houston

"Clayton Williams's passion for making friends, making money, 
and making music is legendary. I've always admired  Clayton. 
He's a genuine American—as tough as a boot but with a heart 
as big as Texas."—Charley Pride, Member of the Country Music 
Hall of Fame