Clifford Edward Berry was, along with John Vincent Atanasoff, the inventor of the first electronic computer, the Atanasoff-Berry Computer, produced between 1939 and 1942 at the Iowa State University.

Clifford Edward Berry was born in Gladbrook, Iowa, in 1918, where his father ran the town electrical shop. The shop was to provide a massive impact on the young Clifford as it soon became the first place in the area with a radio. The shop radio had been built by Clifford's father, Frederick, and it proved to be very popular among the local townsfolk. By the age of 11 Clifford had built his own ham radio. Clifford excelled at school and was moved ahead to provide him with an intellectual challenge. A temporary move to Marengo ended in disaster when Frederick Berry was shot to death by a disgruntled employee. The family remained in Marengo until Clifford was ready to attend Iowa State...