Clay Cash blends the rugged landscape of farming and ranching with the adrenaline-fueled world of athletics. From his roots in Salt Lake City, Utah, to his pivotal role on the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents, Cash’s story is a testament to the enduring connection between agriculture and athleticism. 

Alongside his work within agriculture, Cash said he seeks great importance to giving back to the Lubbock community through philanthropy efforts. As a family that values agriculture and has seen first-hand how athletics can rally a community together, the Cash family made generous donations to create both the Ranch Life Center at the Texas Tech National Ranching Heritage Center and the Cash Family Nutritional Center for student-athletes. 

Cash said he believes in the importance of nutrition for everyone, let alone student-athletes. While developing the Cash Nutritional Center, he ensured the students were always at the center of the process. 

“The nutrition center was able to touch all of our athletes,” Cash said. “Working with the nutritionists, they’re really trying to give all of our athletes the best possible fuel for performance. It was a really neat project.” 

Through the nutrition center, Cash said, their family connects the agricultural aspect of nutrition and production, and interlaces it through the heart of Texas Tech athletes by helping them perform and work at their highest level. Cash said student-athletes emphasize hard work, dedication, consistency, physical work and drive, which are all aspects he has valued and learned through working within agriculture. 

“I think there are plenty of well balanced, gritty kids, that come from the ag. industry. I would say it’s more pronounced in these kids. There’s an edge to them and they understand what it takes to get things done.” 

– Clay Cash

Alongside their interest in athletics, ranching is part of the Cash Family DNA. While first attending Texas Tech in 1992 as a third-generation Red Raider, Cash worked his way through college in the oil and gas industry. He continued working his way up through the ranks after graduating, building both his career and family until in 2018 when he made the notable decision to retire early due to parental family health problems, requiring him to take over the family businesses.  

Transitioning from oil and gas to production agriculture was a large shift, Cash said. However, he quickly rose to the challenge, meanwhile finding a burning passion and commitment to agriculture.

“I never lose perspective of the hard work piece of it, and I physically have to go do it,” Cash said. “That makes me feel so much better. I can sit in the office all day, shuffle papers and be on calls, but I like to go work.” 

After heading his family’s businesses and philanthropic efforts, Cash also found himself on the Texas Tech University System’s Board of Regents, helping ensure the university delivers the highest quality education to its 40,944 students, coming from all backgrounds and walks of life. 

“I could care less about notoriety; I could care less about being a regent for the namesake,” Cash said. “What I do care about is making sure that however you come to me white, black, left, right, up down, etc. that we provide you a great education, we keep you safe and we send you home with an education that has the most bang for your buck. I’m so humbled to get to work with and support our leaders, our professors and more importantly, you guys.” 

Taylor Limbaugh, Lead Writer; Amanda Terrell, Photo Director; Kory Humphrey, Design Coordinator; Jenna Howle, Digital and Advertising Manager