Jay Adams Urice was born in Garrison, Iowa on March 13, 1891. He graduated from Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa in 1912. He also studied at Union Theological Seminary and did graduate work in religious education at Columbia University. In 1937, he received an L.L.D. from Coe College.
Urice began his life-long connection with the YMCA as a member of the student association at Coe. After graduation he joined the staff of the Honolulu YMCA as one of the first men recruited for Association work on the Fellowship Plan. At Honolulu he served one year as office secretary, three years as educational secretary and the last year as associate executive secretary. From 1917 to 1920 he was on the personnel board of the War Work Council. In 1921 he spent a year in YMCA service in Europe. On his arrival back in the United States the same year, he was named the head of the personnel bureau for the International Committee, a position he held for four years.
When the National Council of the YMCA was established in 1925, Urice was appointed executive secretary of the Home Division and was charged with the organization of the program and research section, which was responsible for guiding and developing program activities for the YMCA. In 1934, Urice became the associate general secretary of the National Board and in 1954 the executive secretary, a post he held until January of 1957. After his retirement, he joined the faculty of Yale Divinity School.
In addition to his official positions, Urice held many other important YMCA-related posts: he was the director of the Silver Bay Association, a member of the Executive Committee of the World's Committee of YMCAs and a director of the United Service Organization.
From the guide to the Jay Urice papers, 1891-1957, (bulk 1910-1930)., (University of Minnesota. Kautz Family YMCA Archives. [ymca])
