Day studied at
Mercer University in
Macon, Georgia, but withdrew prior to graduation to join the
United States Marine Corps. After the Marine Corps, Day studied at the
Georgia Institute of Technology; he was a member of
Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and graduated with a degree in Industrial Management in 1958. Day owned real estate in
Atlanta, Georgia. He sold a duplex for $4,000,000 and used the funds to open the first Days Inn hotel, which was located on
Tybee Island, Georgia. Day coined the phrase "budget-luxury" and expanded his hotel chain with great success building a large network of franchise hotels. Day had five children and was
Southern Baptist. He died of cancer in 1978. ==Foundation==