John A. Gronouski
Encyclopedia
John Austin Gronouski was the Wisconsin state commissioner of taxation and the United States Postmaster General
.
. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
in 1942, and then during World War II
served as a navigator in the United States Army Air Corps
until October 1945. He earned his M.A. in 1947, and his PhD in 1955, both from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
In 1952, he ran in the election for United States Senate
against Joseph McCarthy
(who won reelection).
In 1959, he joined the Wisconsin Department of Revenue
, and was named the executive director of the Revenue Survey Commission. In 1960 he became the Wisconsin state commissioner of taxation, and he supported John F. Kennedy
in the election campaign that year. After his well regarded revamping of the Wisconsin tax system, he was appointed postmaster general by President Kennedy in 1963. He was the first Polish-American Cabinet officer. As Postmaster General, he promoted the original five-digit zip code
system, and worked to end racial discrimination against postal employees.
He left the post office in 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson
appointed him United States Ambassador to Poland
.
After the Nixon
administration assumed power in 1969, he was asked by Johnson to become the founding dean of the LBJ School. He remained dean until 1974. He then retired, and moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin
, where he lived for the rest of his life.
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...
.
Biography
Gronouski was born in Dunbar, WisconsinDunbar, Wisconsin
See also Dunbar Dunbar is a town in Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,303 at the 2000 census. The census-designated place of Dunbar is located in the town.-History:...
. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
in 1942, and then during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
served as a navigator in the United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps was a forerunner of the United States Air Force. Renamed from the Air Service on 2 July 1926, it was part of the United States Army and the predecessor of the United States Army Air Forces , established in 1941...
until October 1945. He earned his M.A. in 1947, and his PhD in 1955, both from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
In 1952, he ran in the election for United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
against Joseph McCarthy
Joseph McCarthy
Joseph Raymond "Joe" McCarthy was an American politician who served as a Republican U.S. Senator from the state of Wisconsin from 1947 until his death in 1957...
(who won reelection).
In 1959, he joined the Wisconsin Department of Revenue
Wisconsin Department of Revenue
The Department of Revenue is a department of the Wisconsin state government responsible for the collection of taxes as well as valuing property and the wholesale distribution of alcoholic beverages and enforcement of liquor laws....
, and was named the executive director of the Revenue Survey Commission. In 1960 he became the Wisconsin state commissioner of taxation, and he supported John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
in the election campaign that year. After his well regarded revamping of the Wisconsin tax system, he was appointed postmaster general by President Kennedy in 1963. He was the first Polish-American Cabinet officer. As Postmaster General, he promoted the original five-digit zip code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
system, and worked to end racial discrimination against postal employees.
He left the post office in 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
appointed him United States Ambassador to Poland
United States Ambassador to Poland
The history of Ambassadors of the United States to Poland began in 1919.Until the end of the Great War, Poland had been partitioned between Russia, Germany, and Austria-Hungary. After the war and the collapse of the empires, Poland became an independent republic in 1918.The United States recognized...
.
After the Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
administration assumed power in 1969, he was asked by Johnson to become the founding dean of the LBJ School. He remained dean until 1974. He then retired, and moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, where he lived for the rest of his life.