Doctor of Laws
February 15, 1966
Houston G. Young, a Charleston attorney, received an honorary doctor of laws degree at the convocation. Mr. Young is a native of the Lost Creek area of Harrison County.
He graduated from the West Virginia Conference Seminary in 1902 and was president of the senior class. He earned his bachelor of laws degree at West Virginia University in 1906, then started his practice of law in Clarksburg in 1907. Nine years later he was appointed chief clerk of the secretary of state, and was a successful candidate in 1916 and 1920 for the office of secretary of state. Mr. Young was one of the founders of the State Sinking Fund and became its first executive secretary. His biography in the editions of the Legislative Handbook (Blue Book) of that day was marked by its brevity — one sentence of 35 words in three lines.
On completion of his second term as secretary of state, Mr. Young sought the office of governor in 1924 and was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican nomination. He started the practice of law in Charleston in 1925 and was appointed by Judge George McClintic as referee in bankruptcy in the southern district of West Virginia.
In 1933 he became one of the founders of the investment firm of Young, Moore and Company. He is president of the firm and has given a great part of his time to directing the company’s activities as dealer in municipal and government bonds.
Mr. Young has been awarded the honor of THE ORDER OF VANDALIA by West Virginia University. He was president of the West Virginia University Alumni Association in 1937-38 and in that year was one of the founders of the Loyalty Permanent Endowment Fund. He has been active in alumni affairs since his graduation and now is serving on the committee activated by the WVU board of governors to secure annual giving for the University by alumni and other friends of the institution.
Mr. Young is a member of the board of directors of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce, the Berry Hills Country Club, Delta Tau Delta fraternity and the Presbyterian Church.
Source:
Sundial, March 1966
PLM 7/21/18