Jamison Cain Obituary

D. Jamison Cain ARLINGTON, VA - D. Jamison Cain, a former newspaper reporter who worked in public affairs at the U.S. Postal Service for 25 years, died Monday, April 12, 2010, in Arlington, Virginia. He was 84. Mr. Cain, a South Carolina native, had lived in Arlington since 1959. In 1961 the Kennedy administration appointed him deputy special assistant to the Postmaster General for public affairs. Mr. Cain coined the term "ZIP code" to describe the post office's five-digit Zoning Improvement Plan, introduced in 1962. He was instrumental in devising and implementing the promotional campaign that brought ZIP code into universal use. He was born Jan. 1, 1926, in Sumter, S.C., the son of Mary Ellen " Molly" Bowman and David Jamison "Jimmie" Cain. He attended St. Bernard prep school and college in Cullman, Ala., majoring in liberal arts. After serving in the Army during WWII, he worked as a newspaper reporter for The State in Columbia, S.C.; The Charleston Evening Post, and The Camden Chronicle. From 1955 to 1960 he was Washington bureau chief for Sims News Bureau, which reported on the nation's capital for about 40 newspapers, radio and television stations in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Mr. Cain was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church, the Edward Douglas White Council of the Knights of Columbus and Post 139 of The American Legion. He was a former director and vice president of The Columbus Club of Arlington, Inc. He is survived by a sister, Mrs. John M. Compton of Summerville, as well as three sons, three daughters in law and a grandson. They are: David Cain of Atlanta, his wife, Dawn, and their son, Jim; Andrew Cain of Richmond and his wife, Susan Winiecki; and Paul Cain of Nashville and his wife, Susan Meyn. Mr. Cain's wife of 42 years, Arleen Iverson Cain, a native of Jamestown, N.D., died in 1999. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to Capital Hospice or to the Capital Area Food Bank. Visit our guestbook at www.postandcourier.com/deaths