Barclay Simpson was the founder of the engineering firm Simpson Manufacturing, known for making structural connectors that became an industry standard in housing and commercial construction around the world. A Bay Area native, Simpson grew up in Oakland and attended the University of California, Berkeley, before serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II. In addition to founding SImpson Manufacturing in 1956, he served as president of the BART Board of Directors and organized the Put Something Back Fund, which supported arts and education for school districts around the East Bay. He was also awarded the Berkeley Medal in 2013 by Chancellor Robert Birgeneau of the University of California, Berkeley, for his longtime financial support to the university and its programs. In this interview, he discusses family history, World War II, business in the Bay Area, connections to BART and the university, and his love and support of the arts.