William A. Young, Jr.

Bill was a graduate of John H. Reagan High School. He attended Texas A&M University, received his Bachelor of Science and went on to serve in the US Army Transportation Corps. Bill earned his Master and Doctor of Education degrees from the University of Houston. In 1954, he began his career as a teacher in the Houston Independent School District. He went on to hold many important positions within HISD such as Principal, Director of Special Education, and Assistant Superintendent. He also worked as the Language Center Project Director for the Region IV Education Service Center; Adjunct Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University and University of Houston; and he retired as the Director of Administrative and Student Services from the Houston Community College System, College Without Walls.

Throughout his career and after retirement he served his community in many ways. Bill was Past President for the Houston Association of Retired Teachers (HART). He developed two $100,000 501©(s) HART Scholarship and Continuing Education Funds. He led as the Chair of the District IV Texas Retired Teachers Association and Legislative Committee. Bill served on the Board of Directors and Audit Committee for the Smart Financial Credit Union for 44 years as well as Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Board. He was on the Smart Financial Foundations Board of Directors for 4 years and the first Chairman of the Board. In 2018, he received the Life Time Achievement Award. Bill was the past President for the Heights and Downtown Optimist Club, the Optimist Scholarship foundation of the Southeast Texas, Board of Directors as well as serving on the Board of Directors. He was on the Board and Advisory Board of Directors for the Boy Scouts of America, Sam Houston Area Council as well as a Scoutmaster and District Chairman. Awards and achievements included the Silver Beaver Award, United Methodist Church Bishop’s Torch Award, Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouters Award, and S.P. Waltrip High School senior Volunteer in Public School Award. He volunteered as a 5th grade teacher for the Junior Achievement for many years.

Along with his career and community involvement, Bill was a proud third generation member of Grace United Methodist Church. He was honored to hold many roles within the church such as Chairman of the Administrative Board, Finance, and Trustees; Historian; President of the Men’s Club; Scholarship Committee Coordinator; President of the Northwest District United Methodist Men; Texas Conference; Board of Higher Education and Campus Ministry; Founder and Former Chairman of the Greater Houston Leadership Education School; and Fellow of the Society of John Wesley #459, United Methodist Men.

Bill is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years, Gladys Gibbs Young; children Mary Ann Young and Lee A.Young, DVM and his wife Lucy Edens, DVM; four grandchildren, Amelia, Ethan, Zane, and Luke Young; and many nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, William A. Young and Orlean Young, and his brother, Clark Hutton Young.

Services for Bill will be held privately for his immediate family. The service will be streamed live on the United Methodist Church Facebook page and will be available to watch there following the service. In lieu of flowers, kindly make donations to Grace United Methodist Church, 1245 Heights Boulevard, Houston, TX 77008.