Born and raised in El Reno, Okla., Young was an all-state athlete before he attended Southwestern in 1931. Known as the “Mighty Mite,” Young was the flashiest ball carrier on the Bulldogs’ 1933 undefeated football team, and also helped Southwestern to the conference title in 1934. He eventually earned all-conference honors. Young was a four-time, all-conference selection in basketball and was a champion hurdler in track. He was offered a professional baseball contract with the New York Yankees but instead opted to be a teacher and a coach at Frederick High School. He remained at Frederick for the next 20 years coaching football, basketball and baseball before returning to his hometown of El Reno in 1955. He remained there for the next 18 years serving as athletic director and assistant principal.