Albert V. Casey, a governor of the U.S. Postal Service and the 67th postmaster general, died Saturday in Dallas. He was 84.
Casey was appointed governor by President Bush in August 2002.
When he served as postmaster general in 1986, he was responsible for the restructuring that established the USPS’ division structure. The 74 field divisions that were established moved the decision-making process to lower levels within the organization. The division structure also put customers in closer contact with management-level employees.
“Al Casey was a valuable asset to the postal service’s Board of Governors, and we will miss him,” said S. David Fineman, USPS board chairman. “He was quick to understand the often difficult issues faced by the board.”
Postmaster general John E. Potter said, “When he returned to the board in 2002, it was clear he had remained atop many of the issues facing us. He valued universal service.”
Before becoming postmaster general, Casey served as chairman/CEO of AMR Corp., the parent corporation of American Airlines, where he helped lead the company through the early days of airline deregulation. He served as CEO of the airline from 1974 to 1985 and remained on its board of directors until 1991.
Casey previously served as president of the Times Mirror Co. He was also vice president and treasurer of the Railway Express Agency and assistant vice president of the Southern Pacific Railroad.
After serving as postmaster general, Casey served at Southern Methodist University as the Ann Cox Distinguished Professor of Business Policy at the Cox School of Business. In 1991, President George H. W. Bush appointed him president/CEO of the Resolution Trust Corp.
Casey served in the U.S. Army from 1942 through 1946 and achieved the rank of first lieutenant. He was a graduate of Harvard University where he earned his undergraduate degree and his MBA. He also received a number of honorary degrees, including one from Mount St. Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, MD.
Casey is survived by his son, Peter, and his daughter, Judith. His wife, the former Eleanor Anne Welch, died in 1989.
