Jacqueline
Day
"Jacqueline
Day has worked vigorously in politics during a period of time
when most thought a Women's place was in the kitchen. During
the Vietnam war, she went to Vietnam to learn first hand if we
were being told the truth of that controversial conflict."
—Judith Fisher, 1978
Jacqueline
Day, in 1969, arranged the initial conference of representatives
from Women's organizations that resulted in Governor Robert D.
Ray establishing the Commission on the Status of Women. As one
of the first members of the Iowa Commission on the Status of
Women, she worked to secure its state department status. Day
was also instrumental in organizing the Commission's first annual
Iowa Women's Hall of Fame awards. Employed as the public relations
officer for the Veterans Administration Hospital in Des Moines
for many years, Day also worked as a national Equal Employment
Opportunity investigator for the Veterans Administration. In
1967 and 1970, she visited Vietnam as a member of a Congressional
fact-finding team. A lifelong resident of Des Moines, Day was
born in 1918. Day was inducted into the Iowa Women's Hall of
Fame in 1978.
UPDATE: Day
served as confidential secretary and honorary colonel to Governors
Robert Ray and Norman Erbe. She was a member of the Iowa Board
of Parole for six years, chairing four of those years. She also
chaired the Governor's Blue Ribbon Committee for Recruitment
and Retention in Iowa National Guard as well as committees to
erect World War II, Korean, and Vietnam veteran memorials on
State Capitol grounds. She has served on search committees for
the Deputy Adjutant General of Iowa, Chief of Iowa Highway Patrol,
and executive director of the Commission on Veterans Affairs.
Day served 15 years on the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy Council.
She is currently serving on the Iowa Centennial Commission which
provides scholarships for Iowa seniors. Day is active with the
Meskwaki Indians at Tama, who call her “Old Wolf Lady.”
She has been honored with induction into the East High School
Hall of Fame. Upon her retirement from VA Medical Center, a shelter
house was erected and dedicated to Day named "DAY PLAZA,"
the plaque inscribed with "No Greater Love." Day died
on June 23, 2002.
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