L. B. Day

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L. B. Day

L. B. Day (February 22, 1932 – October 24, 1986) was an American

L. B. Day Comcast Amphitheatre on the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem
is named in his honor.

Early life

Day was born in

University of Nebraska for a year before moving to Oregon. He graduated from Willamette University in 1958, earning a B.A. in political science and history. He attended Willamette Law School for a year before turning his attention full-time to union activism.[citation needed
]

Teamsters activism

Day began working for Teamsters Local 670 in 1958. This local represented cannery workers in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Author Brent Walth noted that Day viewed his role with the Teamsters as a crusader, working to clean up a union often accused of connections to organized crime. Day's brother Frank noted Day's "talent for persuading people." Day quickly rose from working as a union organizer of cannery workers to serving as secretary-general of the local.[2]

Oregon House

Day was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives as a Democrat in 1964, representing Salem's House District 31. He was reelected in 1966 and 1968 before deciding to focus once more upon his union duties. In 1967, he switched parties and became a Republican.[3][4] Walth describes this shift as one of practicality: "The Republicans were in charge of the house and L.B. Day wanted to win."[2]

Appointed positions

In 1970, Day was appointed as a regional director for the

Land Conservation and Development Commission in 1974.[citation needed
]

Oregon Senate

In 1977, Day was appointed to the

Wallace Carson following Carson's appointment to the Marion County Circuit Court. He was reelected to District 16 of the Oregon Senate in his own right in 1978 and 1982. Day was running for reelection at the time of his death, from a heart attack suffered during a fundraiser for fellow Salem Republican C. T. "Cub" Houck.[3][4]

Reputation

Day was known as a hard working, irascible, and ornery public figure noted for his intensity. Governor Tom McCall once said of his friend and political ally, "You have to understand L. B. He starts negotiations at the death struggle."[2] In the literature for his 1986 reelection campaign, Day admitted "I have been accused of being aggressive to a fault. No question that is a failing," he went on, "but my temperature rises when I see time wasted, money frittered away and elected officials dodging issues."[4]

Personal life

Day had a daughter, Melissa, from a brief first marriage.

Statesman-Journal political columnist Ron Blankenbaker delivered Christmas presents to the needy using proceeds from "Pompous Twit" awards bestowed annually by Blankenbaker upon elected officials, journalists, and others. The "Twit of the Year" was asked to donate time and money to help the needy.[4]

References

  1. ^ "L. B. Day". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  2. ^
    Oregon Historical Society Press
    . p. 325.
  3. ^
    Register-Guard
    . October 26, 1986. p. 3C. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d Manzano, Phil (October 26, 1986). "L. B. Day Recalled as 'One of a Kind' Legislator". The Oregonian. p. 1. Retrieved October 9, 2015 – via NewsBank.(subscription may be required or content may be available in libraries)
  5. ^ Gifford, Laura Jane (Winter 2004). "Planning for a Productive Paradise: Tom McCall and the Conservationist Tale of Oregon Land-Use Policy". Oregon Historical Quarterly. 115 (4): 488.
  6. ^ "Wedding in Maryland". The Lincoln Star (Lincoln, Nebraska): 12. July 9, 1953.
  7. ^ "Births". The Statesman Journal (Salem, Oregon): 5. June 17, 1956.
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