Benjamin F. Bailar
Encyclopedia
Benjamin F. Bailar served as the United States Postmaster General
from 1975 to 1978. He took office on February 16, 1975, succeeding Elmer T. Klassen
. Previously, he had served as Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Chief Financial Officer
, and Deputy Postmaster General.
Bailar, a graduate of the Harvard Business School
with an extensive background in finance and management, attempted to place the postal service on a strong economic footing. His major responsibility as United States Postmaster General
was to ensure that the semi-independent government corporation could support itself on revenues from mail users. Mr. Bailar was especially concerned with the quality of mail service and postal costs. One significant cost was labor, and Bailar is probably best known for negotiating an eleventh hour contract which avoided a strike by unionized postal employees in 1975. He was also instrumental in the rate increase of first class stamps to 13 cents, in dealing with CIA mail tampering, and in addressing possible postal cost-cutting which would have resulted in a decline in mail services to some rural areas.
on April 21, 1934. After attending public schools and the University of Illinois Lab School in his home town, Mr. Bailar attended the University of Colorado
. Following his graduation in 1955, he served in the U.S. Navy as a Supply Officer
before entering the Harvard Business School
. He received his Masters in Business Administration in 1959. Mr. Bailar is also the recipient of honorary degrees from Monmouth College
and the University of Colorado
.
In addition to his term of service as Postmaster General, Mr. Bailar has worked for the Continental Oil Company, American Can Company
, and U.S. Gypsum. He has served on the boards of a number of corporations, banks, educational institutions, and not-for-profit organizations. In 1987, he accepted appointment as Dean
and Professor
of the Jesse H. Jones School of Business Administration at Rice University
in Houston, Texas
. Mr. Bailar led the fledgling program through 10 years of steady growth and increasing recognition before retiring in 1997.
United States Postmaster General
The United States Postmaster General is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Postal Service. The office, in one form or another, is older than both the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence...
from 1975 to 1978. He took office on February 16, 1975, succeeding Elmer T. Klassen
E. T. Klassen
Elmer T. Klassen served as the United States Postmaster General from 1972 to 1975.In 1971 Mr. Klassen became the first Postmaster General named by the Postal Service's Board of Governors, rather than the President, under new Federal legislation...
. Previously, he had served as Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Chief Financial Officer
Chief financial officer
The chief financial officer or Chief financial and operating officer is a corporate officer primarily responsible for managing the financial risks of the corporation. This officer is also responsible for financial planning and record-keeping, as well as financial reporting to higher management...
, and Deputy Postmaster General.
Bailar, a graduate of the Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
with an extensive background in finance and management, attempted to place the postal service on a strong economic footing. His major responsibility as United States Postmaster General
United States Postmaster General
The United States Postmaster General is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Postal Service. The office, in one form or another, is older than both the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence...
was to ensure that the semi-independent government corporation could support itself on revenues from mail users. Mr. Bailar was especially concerned with the quality of mail service and postal costs. One significant cost was labor, and Bailar is probably best known for negotiating an eleventh hour contract which avoided a strike by unionized postal employees in 1975. He was also instrumental in the rate increase of first class stamps to 13 cents, in dealing with CIA mail tampering, and in addressing possible postal cost-cutting which would have resulted in a decline in mail services to some rural areas.
Overview
Mr. Bailar was born in Champaign, IllinoisChampaign, Illinois
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
on April 21, 1934. After attending public schools and the University of Illinois Lab School in his home town, Mr. Bailar attended the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
. Following his graduation in 1955, he served in the U.S. Navy as a Supply Officer
Supply Officer
Supply Officer was a specialisation in the British Royal Navy which has recently been superseded by the Logistics Officer, recognising the need to align with the nomenclature and function of similar cadres in the British Army and Royal Air Force...
before entering the Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
. He received his Masters in Business Administration in 1959. Mr. Bailar is also the recipient of honorary degrees from Monmouth College
Monmouth College
Monmouth College is a four-year coeducational private liberal arts college located in Monmouth, Illinois, United States.-History:Monmouth College was founded on April 18, 1853 by the Second Presbytery of Illinois, a frontier arm of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church...
and the University of Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
.
In addition to his term of service as Postmaster General, Mr. Bailar has worked for the Continental Oil Company, American Can Company
American Can Company
The American Can Company was a manufacturer of tin cans. It was a member of the Tin Can Trust, that controlled a "large percentage of business in the United States in tin cans, containers, and packages of tin." It was formerly a member of the Dow Jones Industrial Average from 1959–1991, though...
, and U.S. Gypsum. He has served on the boards of a number of corporations, banks, educational institutions, and not-for-profit organizations. In 1987, he accepted appointment as Dean
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
and Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of the Jesse H. Jones School of Business Administration at Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. Mr. Bailar led the fledgling program through 10 years of steady growth and increasing recognition before retiring in 1997.