Thomas R. Young

Thomas (Tom) R. Young, Jr. was born on September 24, 1922 in Memphis Tennessee to Effie G. Hancock Young and Thomas R. Young, Sr.. He attended Memphis State University and the Memphis Academy of Arts. On November 15, 1942 in Dallas, Texas he married Mary E. Murphy. Two months later he left for training with the US Army Air Corp and received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant and his pilot’s wings in February of 1944, eventually flying B-17s over Europe. On November 16, 1944, his aircraft was severely damaged by enemy artillery and he and his crew were forced to bail out over enemy territory. He was captured and held as a Prisoner of War by the Germans for six months. After the war ended, Tom and Mary lived for two years in Chicago while he attended the American Academy of Art. He accepted a position with Phillips Petroleum Company as an advertising artist in 1947 and they moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, where their son, Thomas R. Young III, was born. An active reservist, Tom was recalled into military service with the US Air Force during the Korean War in 1951. at Vance Air Force Base Enid, Oklahoma. Tom served as an instructor pilot and Training Aids Officer. When that conflict ended the family moved to Dallas, Texas, and Tom joined K & H Productions as an artist/animator. The company became the leading animation and film production studio in the Southwest. Tom retired as a partner and Executive Vice-President after thirty-four years. Retiring in 1987, he continued to work in his home studio as a freelance graphic designer and illustrator for several years. Tom was a charter member, president and Art Director of the Year 1965, of the D/FW Art Director’s Club, now the Dallas Society of Visual Communication. For two years he was the First Vice President of the National Society of Art Directors. Tom, Mary and Tom III were active members of Tyler Street United Methodist Church for forty-eight years. Tom served the church in many leadership capacities. He taught the College and Career Class for over 15 years and the Anniversary Adult Class for 25 years. Tom was a member of the Oak Cliff Lions Club for 40 years, and served as its president and an active participant in their annual variety show. He was a Lion of the Year and a Melvin Jones Fellow. Tom was active in Boy Scouting as a Cub Master for Pack 503, Assistant Scout Master for Troop 503 and a District Committee Chairperson. Tom and Mary traveled extensively across the country, frequently by motor home with friends. Tom was an ardent photographer, especially of Texas’ many wildflowers, and his photos were reproduced in magazines and a widely used handbook, “Wildflowers of Texas.” In June of 2001 Mary and Tom moved to Boise, Idaho to live near their son and his family. They found a warm reception at Meridian United Methodist Church and quickly became active members. Tom was also a member of The War Hawk Air Museum, the Boise Valley POW/MIA Awareness Corp, and a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 63 and of the Boise Bench Lions Club. He served Lions District 39W as its Chaplain for two years. Tom was preceded in death by Mary, his wife of 67 years, and his parents, his sister Gerry and a grandson, Thomas IV. He is survived by, his son Dr. Tom Young III and daughter-in-law Gloria of Boise, grandsons Chris and James Young and their families of Nampa, Idaho, step-grandchildren Matt Anderson and Kim Cordero, sister Betty Coker of Midland, Texas; niece Colette Mayo and her husband Leland of Edmond, OK; and five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to the Boise Valley POW MIA Awareness Corp. or to the Boise Bench Lions Club. Funeral services for Tom will be held on Wednesday, August 7, 2013, at 11:00AM at the Meridian United Methodist Church, 240 E. Idaho Ave, Meridian. Remembrances may be left for the family at www.AccentFuneral.com. Services are under the direction of Accent Funeral Home, Meridian.