Rudolph M. Clay Sr. (July 16, 1935 – June 4, 2013) was an American activist and politician who was active in Indiana politics as a member of the Democratic Party.

Clay entered electoral politics with his election to the state senate where he served one term before he was defeated in the Democratic primary by Representative Katie Hall.

[2][3] Clay was involved in the Civil rights movement and participated in marches led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1960s.

[2] He worked as the public relations director for the United Viscounts, a civil rights organization in Gary, Indiana.

[6][7][8][2] Clay ran for reelection to the state senate in the 1976 election, but was defeated in the Democratic primary by Representative Katie Hall.

He also served on the Affairs of Lake County, Legislative Apportionment, and Natural Resources, Ecology and Agriculture committees.

He defeated incumbent Councilor Frank Perry in the Democratic primary and won in the general election without opposition.

[25] On January 6, 1984, Clay announced that he would run for the Democratic nomination for Lake County Recorder to succeed William Bielski Jr., who was term-limited.

[26] He won the Democratic nomination against ten other candidates which included Johnny McWilliams, who had the support of Gary Mayor Richard G. Hatcher, Leonard Bielski, the brother of the incumbent recorder, and Mathias A. Kerger, a former member of the state senate.

[36][37] Clay defeated Gerald Hayes and Velia Taneff in the 1994 Democratic primary and faced no opposition in the general election.

[47] Clay defeated Raggs, Daniel Spolijoric, and Tony Walker in the primary and Republican nominee Charles Kirkland in the general election.

[52][53] On December 8, 1986, an assassination attempt was made against Clay when a sniper shot him three times in the shoulder and lower back after waiting outside his home.

On December 12, he was sworn in on to the county commission earlier than the normal date so that Spann Jr., who would take over if Clay died, would not take over.

[63][64] However, another decision was made where Barnes, Clay, Hatcher, and Tolliver would all attend the convention with half-voting power.

[74][75] King, who supported Stiglich, left the Democratic Party and became an independent after Clay's selection.

[86] Calumet Township board member Roosevelt Allen Jr. defeated Clay in the primary.

[91][80][92] Morgan Quitno Press listed Gary as the tenth most dangerous city in the United States during Clay's tenure.

[94] He requested that Gary receive $400 million of the $5 billion allotted to Indiana by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

[96] Clay called for the United States House of Representatives to impeach President Richard Nixon in 1974.

[98][99] The state senate voted thirty-four to sixteen, with Clay in favor, against ratifying the Equal Rights Amendment in 1973.

[103] Clay asked for George Phend, the Superintendent of Indiana State Reformatory, to allow prisoners to kiss their wives citing results from the policy at the prison in Terre Haute, Indiana where it helped rehabilitation and lowered homosexuality.

[108] Clay introduced legislation to recognize a state holiday in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. in 1974.