Background
James Edward Day was born on the 11th of October, 1914 in Jacksonville, Illinois, United States.
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1965
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1990
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1994
lawyer author civil servant business executive
James Edward Day was born on the 11th of October, 1914 in Jacksonville, Illinois, United States.
Day received a Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Chicago in 1935, then attended Harvard Law School, graduating in 1938.
James Edward Day began his legal career in 1939 when he joined Sidney, Austin, Burgess and Harper in Chicago, where he became a close friend of Adlai Stevenson. In 1940 he joined the Naval Reserve and trained as an officer, he was called to active duty as an ensign in 1942, and was discharged as a lieutenant in 1945.
Day worked as legal assistant to Illinois Governor Adlai Stevenson in 1948. In 1950 Stevenson appointed Day as Commissioner of Insurance for the state of Illinois. In 1953, he left state government for a job with Prudential Insurance Company, eventually became its senior vice president in charge of western operations four years later. In 1961 he became United States Postmaster General in the administration of John F. Kennedy. During Day’s tenure, he decreased the service’s deficit, improved morale, worked to decrease racism, and implemented the ZIP Code system. Day resigned in 1963 to return to the private sector, where he could receive a higher salary, he was only making $25,000 annually as the Postmaster General.
James joined Sidley and Austin in 1963 as a partner, then began work with Cox, Lanford, and Brown and also Squire, Sanders and Dempsey. He also found time to work with the Boy Scouts of America and the YMCA. Day also wrote several books, including Humor in Public Speaking, Descendants of Christopher Day of Bucks County, Farming for Fun, and others.
Day was particularly known as the United States Postmaster General under whose leadership the ZIP code was introduced. Day reduced the federal Postal Service’s deficit from $800 million to $450 million by modernizing operations and reducing inefficiency. He also improved service and raised the wages and morale of his 500,000 employees. Day was the first postmaster general to sign a labor agreement with workers trying to organize unions. He also instituted a merit promotion plan and worked to eliminate racial discrimination.
James Edward Day was married to Mary Burgess.
