Harding Young

Family-Placed Death Notice

DR. HARDING BERNETTE YOUNG Dr. Harding Bernette Young, age 85 of Atlanta, GA, passed away Sunday, April 29, 2007 after a long illness. Dr. Young was well known in the Atlanta Community as a Professor, Businessman, Consultant, Advisor, Community Servant, Loving Husband, Father, Mentor and Friend. Born in the little town of Rosston, Arkansas January 16, 1922, Dr. Young will be remembered for his many firsts. As a graduate of Harvard University in 1955, he was the first African-American to receive the Doctor of Business Administration from the Harvard School of Business. In 1969, he became the first African-American to be appointed to the faculty of the Business School of Georgia State University. In 1979, he became the first African-American to serve on the Board of Directors of the Citizens & Southern National Bank (now Bank of America) and in 1985, he was the first African-American appointed to the Board of Directors of the Federal Home Loan Bank. His other Board appointments included the Home Owners Warranty Corporation, Mutual Federal Savings and Loan Association, the Bureau of National Affairs, the Young People's Corporation, the United Board for College Development and the Board of St. Joseph's Hospital. Dr. Young enjoyed a rewarding and illustrious 50 year career in higher education serving as Professor of Business Administration and Chairman of the Department of Business and Economics at Arkansas AM&N (now The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff); Professor and Chairman of the Department of Commerce at North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University); Dean of the School of Business and Professor of Business Administration at Atlanta University (now Clark Atlanta University); and Professor of Management, Entrepreneurship and Business Policy at Georgia State University. During his 50 years in education, he mentored thousands of young men and women who have gone on to become leaders in government, business, industry, education and the community. The Harding B. Young Teaching Excellence Award is awarded annually in his honor at Georgia State University. Because of his vast knowledge of business and commerce, Dr. Young was sought after as a consultant by major corporations, businesses and governmental agencies such as Chase Manhattan Bank, Westinghouse, Kraft Foods, Trust Company Bank, the U.S. Army Installations at Fort Rucker, the Federal Executive Training Center and the Internal Revenue Service. He served as consultant in the development of the Business Schools at Chicago State University, Morris Brown College, Savannah State College and Tuskegee Institute and served as External Examiner to the University of Lagos in Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa. Dr. Young was invited to the Whitehouse by three U.S. Presidents to serve as a Task Force Member of the Conferences on Minority Business Development and was awarded by the President of the United States "Award of Merit". Known as a humanitarian, Dr. Young continually emphasized the need for the appreciation of diversity and the importance of human relationships and racial harmony in the business environment. Driven by a desire to foster entrepreneurship among minorities and to assist minority and small business owners, Dr. Young founded The Southeastern Institute of Entrepreneurship and Management and The Southeastern Economic Development Foundation & Youth Development Program in 1972, the first of their kind in the region. These organizations assisted countless minority and small business owners as well as prospective business owners in achieving business success. He believed in giving-back to the community and was always eager to share of his time, talent and resources. Dr. Young was the recipient of numerous honors and awards including the Trailblazer Award from the KPMG Peat Marwick Foundation Project; the Lifetime Achievement Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce and Minority Business Development; and membership on the National Advisory Committee for the Small Business Administration. He was a proud member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Dr. Young is survived by his devoted wife of 55 years, Dr. Sadye A. Young; his four children, Mrs. Sybil Young Scott (Erik), Dr. Harding G. Young (Kim), Mrs. Angela Young Jones (Marion), and Mr. Gregory V. Young; and grandchildren, Stephen and Lauren Jones, John, Hailey and Mathew Young, and Marlena Young. Funeral services for Dr. Young will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 5, 2007 at St. Paul of the Cross Catholic Church, 551 Harwell Rd., Atlanta, GA 30318. Father Jed Sumampong, Pastor, presiding. Interment, Westview Cemetery. Family and friends are asked to assemble at the church at 10:30 a.m. on the day of service. In lieu of flowers, friends may send a donation to the Atlanta Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association at 1925 Century Boulevard Suite 10, Atlanta, GA 30345 (404) 728-1181. Viewing Today, Friday, May 4, 2007 from 1-9 PM and the family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Murray Brothers Cascade Chapel, 1199 Utoy Springs Rd. SW (corner of Cascade Rd. near I-285) 404-349-3000 mbfh.com.