Douglas Lindley Young

Douglas Lindley Young, 63, passed away on Tuesday, December 4 at his home in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He was fighting throat and neck cancer. Young was preceded in death by his father, Carlo Young; brother, Alan Young; cousin, Dr. Van Vandergriff, and wife Judge Maxine Thomas. He is survived by his mother, Barbara Mason, of FL; son, Scott Young; and grandson, Gabriel Young, both of Knoxville. Sister and brother-in-law Rob and Tonie Bayman, of TX; sister, Stephanie Wilson of FL; brother, Jeffery Young of NC; uncle, Fred Young; aunt, Ruby Vandergriff; and numerous cousins. Longtime friends from Los Angeles, CA included artist James Pasqual Bettio, choreographer Joseph Cassini, and singers Freda Payne and Sherri Shirelle, and Barbara Arfa Slaughter of Florida. Doug Young grew up in North Knoxville, and graduated from Fulton High School in 1968 where he was a member of the winning football team, a member of Who's Who and was awarded honors for leadership. He met his lifelong, best friend, Herb Newton, at Fulton. Young attended UT for two years before moving to Los Angeles. He graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles and attended the California College of Law. He pass...[more]

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the bar exam on his first attempt in California and practiced criminal law in Los Angeles for numerous years. Young's clients included Marvin and Frankie Gaye, Freda Payne, Ike Turner, Sly Stone, and Grace Robbins, the former wife of writer Harold Robbins and members of the Billionaire Boys' Club. While living in Los Angeles, Young created The Salute America Organization and The Winner in You Award and organized and hosted an event that was the "largest national day of award giving in history." Young's theme was "There is a winner in you." Young was also one of the founders of the Annual Super Celebrity Event to End World Hunger, organizing and planning the first gala held in Los Angeles in 1983. One of the joys of his life was to see others receive awards for merit and achievement. In 2003, Young, known on air as Wild Bill Lindley, began the radio show Salute America at Horne Radio Station 850 AM. The show was a political talk show that focused on national and international news, but, also included guests from the local political arena. Doug's son, Scott Young, was the producer, and the co-host, added 2007, was Martha Rose Woodward, writer with the Knoxville Journal. He was also founder of the Modern Tribune, an on-line news site. Due to that show, Young met Renee Wheeler, owner of the Knoxville Journal and Martha Woodward, who became dear friends. Young's hobbies included writing, lecturing, politics, history, giving awards, hosting radio shows, walking, and cheering for the VOLS. A memorial service will be held on at 2 p.m. Sunday, at Gentry Griffey Funeral Chapel with Pastor Steve Sparks officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.