Icey Wiley Day (July 1, 1891 - December 21, 1955) was a longtime Democratic member of the

Mississippi House of Representatives The Mississippi House of Representatives is the lower house of the Mississippi Legislature, the lawmaking body of the U.S. state of Mississippi. According to the state constitution of 1890, it is to comprise no more than 122 members elected fo ...

, representing Attala County. He was blind.

Early life

Icey Wiley Day was born on July 1, 1891, in Ethel, Attala County, Mississippi. His parents were John Vandiver Day and Anne Elizabeth (Wilson) Day. He was blinded at the age of 10 while playing baseball in Ethel. At the age of 13, he entered the State Institution for the Blind in Jackson, Mississippi, and remained there until he was 19. He then entered the University of Mississippi, where he received his L.L.B. in 1913. He was admitted to the bar the same year.

Political career and death

Day was elected to the

, representing his native Attala County as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

, for the first time in 1915. In 1919, he ran for the office of Mississippi Railroad Commissioner, but lost in the Mississippi 1st Supreme Court District primary election to George R. Edwards. He was elected again for, and served, the terms of 1932–1936, 1936–1940, 1944–1948, and 1948–1952. He was also elected in 1955, but died of a heart attack on December 21, 1955, before taking office, which would have been on January 3 of 1956. During his tenure, he founded the Mississippi Industries for the Blind.

Personal life

Day was a member of the

Baptist Church Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe to the doctrines of soul compete ...

. He married Gladys Allen in 1927, and they had 2 children together. Day was the first blind man in the Masons of Mississippi.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Day, Icey 1891 births 1955 deaths Democratic Party members of the Mississippi House of Representatives People from Attala County, Mississippi American blind people Blind politicians American politicians with disabilities