SectionsCommunity remembers sociology professor
Kevin Agee
Issue date: 12/1/09 Section: News
Lloyd R. Young lived to improve the lives of the people around him, friends and community members said.
Young, 79, a sociology professor at then-Southwest Missouri State University for 26 years, died Nov. 22 at his home.
Young also served as the chairman for The Good Community Committee, a group of local leaders that seeks to find ways to improve the local community. It started in 1995 with a conference on urban violence.
The Good Community was an important part of Young's life, said Brian Fogle, who has been a co-chair on the committee for the past year.
"Lloyd was the heart and soul of that committee and it's done many good things for our community," Fogle said. "He was a dear friend, a thoughtful and caring person and has made our community much richer."
Young will be remembered as a man who thought of others, said Jim Baker, MSU vice president of research and economic development. Baker knew Young for 16 years.
"When you were in a meeting with Lloyd, he was kind of the conscience for the meeting," Baker said. "If we were having a discussion about different groups, he would always ask, 'Is this idea really going to help these people?'
"He was always the person who thought about the common good and the good of the community."
People like Young are critical to developing good communities, Baker said.
A memorial service will be Saturday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. at Lander's Theatre on Walnut Street.
Young was born March 11, 1930 in LaMoure, N.D. and moved to Springfield in 1971.
He retired from teaching in 1997. Earlier in his career, he was a faculty member at Iowa State University, Graceland College and Colorado Women's College.
He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and a Ph.D. in sociology from Iowa State University.
Survivors include his wife, Lyn; a son, John; a daughter, Katie; and their mother, Joan Young. He is also survived by four grandchildren and four nieces.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to a charity for the betterment of the community.
Young, 79, a sociology professor at then-Southwest Missouri State University for 26 years, died Nov. 22 at his home.
Young also served as the chairman for The Good Community Committee, a group of local leaders that seeks to find ways to improve the local community. It started in 1995 with a conference on urban violence.
The Good Community was an important part of Young's life, said Brian Fogle, who has been a co-chair on the committee for the past year.
"Lloyd was the heart and soul of that committee and it's done many good things for our community," Fogle said. "He was a dear friend, a thoughtful and caring person and has made our community much richer."
Young will be remembered as a man who thought of others, said Jim Baker, MSU vice president of research and economic development. Baker knew Young for 16 years.
"When you were in a meeting with Lloyd, he was kind of the conscience for the meeting," Baker said. "If we were having a discussion about different groups, he would always ask, 'Is this idea really going to help these people?'
"He was always the person who thought about the common good and the good of the community."
People like Young are critical to developing good communities, Baker said.
A memorial service will be Saturday, Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. at Lander's Theatre on Walnut Street.
Young was born March 11, 1930 in LaMoure, N.D. and moved to Springfield in 1971.
He retired from teaching in 1997. Earlier in his career, he was a faculty member at Iowa State University, Graceland College and Colorado Women's College.
He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology and a Ph.D. in sociology from Iowa State University.
Survivors include his wife, Lyn; a son, John; a daughter, Katie; and their mother, Joan Young. He is also survived by four grandchildren and four nieces.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to a charity for the betterment of the community.
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