SALISBURY — It’s probably easier to list all of the organizations and job titles David Clay was not a part of and did not hold in Salisbury and the rest of Rowan County than it is to document those he aided. After decades of being a local fixture and ever-welcoming presence to so many people, Clay died at the age of 100 the day after Christmas. 

A World War II veteran, husband and father, Clay never wavered in his pursuit of doing right to those he cared about the most. 

Though his main profession was working for the Riley-Clay-Turner Insurance Agency, Clay spent much of his time giving back to others in any way he could. As a member and leader of the Civitans Club, Salisbury City Council, Friends of Children Committee, Rowan County Fair Association, the Salisbury-Rowan YMCA, and First Baptist Church, Clay did all he could to do better for his community.

“Dave has always been an example of a gentleman…was one of the people that you go to anytime you want to try and get something done,” Rowan County Commissioner Jim Greene said.

Clay and Greene were both in the insurance industry and had known each other since 1977. Even though they worked for separate companies, that never prevented them from having a long, lasting relationship.

“He was a competitor, but he always treated me more like a friend than a competitor and I always appreciated that,” Greene said.

When it came to all that he did, Greene remembers how Clay paid attention to the little details when leading Rowan County forward. 

“He was always talking about making hot dogs at Catawba College in the tournament that we put on there for years and years,” Greene said.

Salisbury Fire Chief Bob Parnell knew Clay for “many, many years” and highlighted him as the insurance industry representative on the Salisbury Fire Department Relief Fund Board. One moment stood out to him when he ran into Clay while they were both on a cruise in 1996.  

“We had several good conversations during that short, five-day cruise. We had grown to totally respect each other for the professionalism and maturity that we both shared,” Parnell said. 

Rockwell Mayor Chuck Bowman and Clay had been members of Salisbury Civitans for eight years together and sat at the same table together during meetings. Last year, Bowman said they threw Clay a 100th birthday party and that he “loved it.” Bowman didn’t stumble upon all of Clay’s accomplishments until recently and feels like Civitans won’t be the same without him there.

“Most of us in the club were unaware of all the things Dave had been involved in, this man has done a lot for Rowan County and Salisbury, which was discovered when they researched for his celebration. Today was hard as it was our first day back at Civitans since Dave passed, our table felt empty and we will all miss this fine man,” Bowman said.