James E. Casey

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James E. Casey (March 29, 1888 - June 6, 1983), American businessman, was born in Pick Handle Gulch near Candelaria, Nevada.

In 1907 19-year-old Jim Casey founded the American Messenger Company in Seattle, Washington with $100 borrowed from a friend. He served as president, CEO and chairman. Claude Ryan was his partner and his messengers were his brother George and other teenagers. His motto was "best service and lowest rates" Deliveries were made on foot, bicycle, or motorcycle.

In 1913, Jim Casey agreed to merge with Evert McCabe's Motorcycle Messengers. Merchants Parcel Delivery was formed and focused now on packages. Their first delivery car was a 1913 Ford Model T.

In 1919, the company expanded beyond Seattle and changed its name to United Parcel Service.

Mr. Casey left three legacies by the end of his life: UPS, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and Casey Family Programs. He always remembered that he had not done it alone.

He consistently gave credit to his mother, Annie E. Casey, for holding their family together after Jim’s father died. As a youngster delivering packages on the Seattle streets, Jim Casey was exposed to the excesses of a bustling city in the midst of the Klondike gold rush. It was the guidance of a strong mother and support of his family that kept him grounded.

The successful businessman sought ways to help those who lacked the family life he knew to be so crucial. With his brothers George and Harry and his sister Marguerite, Mr. Casey created Casey Family Programs in 1966 to help children who were unable to live with their birth parents—giving them stability and an opportunity to grow to responsible adulthood.

[edit] Quotes

"Within each of us there is a mysterious innate force that drives us onward. It wants us to do better and be better. Call that force conscience, ambition, determination, power of will, or whatever you choose, it constantly whispers in our ears words of advice, stimulation and encouragement. If you will but heed the voice and utilize that inner power to the limit of its potentialities, nothing on earth can stop your progress."

-- James E. Casey, 1947

"One measure of your success will be the degree to which you build up others who work with you. While building up others, you will build up yourself."

-- James E. Casey

"The basic principle which I believe has contributed more than any other to the building of our business as it is today, is the ownership of our company by the people employed in it."

-- James E. Casey, 1955

"Our future leaders will be our people who today, are forging ahead, modestly and quietly. They are plain, simple people who are doing their best on their present jobs...what ever those jobs may happen to be. Such people will not fail us when called for bigger things".

-- James E. Casey