Day studied at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia, but withdrew prior to graduation to join the United States Marine Corps. After the Marine Corps, Day studied at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and graduated with a degree in Industrial Management in 1958.
Day owned real estate in Atlanta, Georgia. He sold a duplex for $4,000,000 and used the funds to open the first Days Inn hotel, which was located on Tybee Island, Georgia. Day coined the phrase "budget-luxury" and expanded his hotel chain with great success building a large network of franchise hotels.
Day had five children and was Southern Baptist.
He died of cancer in 1978. Places named in his honor:
The Cecil B. Day Graduate and Professional Campus of Mercer University
Cecil B. Day School of Hospitality Administration at Georgia State University
Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Georgia
Day Chapel at Atlanta"s Perimeter Church.
