William Thomas Young

William Thomas Young was born in Huntington, West Virginia. He died peacefully on June 6, 2014. During World War II, he was trained to be a fighter pilot with the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was educated at the John Herron Institute in Indianapolis, where he had a scholarship, the University of Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Art Academy, Ohio State University, the University of Southern California, the University of Alabama (M.A. in Fine Arts) and Columbia University (Ed.D. in Painting). After graduating from the University of Alabama, he became chairman of the Department of Fine Arts at Florence State University (now the University of North Alabama). After that he was an illustrator of experimental aircraft for Douglas Aircraft in Los Angeles. Between 1953 and 1969, he was chairman of the Department of Fine Arts at Wagner College on Staten Island. During this time he was a founding member of the Tenth Street artists' galleries in Manhattan. He was head of the Department of Fine Arts at Auburn University in 1969-70. In 1970, he came to Louisiana State University in New Orleans as chairman of the newly created art department, where he was later a professor of art until his retirement. The most recent exhibition of his paintings was held at the Ogden Museum in 2008 on the 50th anniversary of the University of New Orleans. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Carolyn; sons. Christopher of San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Stephen of Metairie and daughters Sheridan of Lawton, Oklahoma, and Melissa of Destin, Florida, and six grandchildren. The family would like to thank those who cared for him at Emeritus Senior Living in Mandeville. In compliance with his wishes, his cremated remains will be placed in the Gulf of Mexico near Destin. Arrangements by Bagnell & Son Funeral Home of Covington, LA. To view and sign the family guest book, please visit www.bagnellfuneralhome.com.