Mr. Young graduated from Randles High School, Cape Business College and later attended Washington University in St. Louis where he studied Personnel Management and Labor Law.
On November 13, 1943 he was united in marriage to Mary Louise Howell in Cape Girardeau, Mrs. Young preceded him in death on October 7, 2003. The Young’s lived most of their lives in Alton, Illinois where he worked for Alton Box Board Company, starting in 1944. They returned to Southeast Missouri in 1977 after his early retirement due to ill health.
Starting with Alton Box Board Company as payroll clerk, his appointment to Personnel Assistant in 1947 marked his entry into the Personnel and Labor Relations Field. During his career he held several positions, being named Industrial Relations Manager, Paperboard Division in 1958. In 1970 he was promoted to Manager, Labor Relations and Personnel Services for the company, the position he held at the time of his retirement.
During his career, he participated in several Industry, Personnel and Labor Relations Organizations. He was a member of the National Industrial Conference Board, Illinois Personnel Arbitration Panel, and the St. Louis Industrial Relations Club and was a Guest Lecturer in Labor Law at the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.
Mr. Young was active in many Community Organizations as a board member and fundraiser, including the Chamber of Commerce, United Way, American Red Cross, Illinois Heart Association and the Salvation Army. He was very active in the College Avenue Presbyterian Church in Alton, Illinois, serving as a Deacon and on the Finance Committee. Thomas also served as an Elder in the First Presbyterian Church in Dexter as well as serving on the Building, Finance, Budget and Auditing Committees. At the time of his death, he was a member of Centenary United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau where he was active in volunteer work.
Survivors include one brother, Van D. Young of Sacramento, California; two step-brothers, Henry Huffman of Baldwin,and Paul Huffman of Murphysboro, Illinois; three step-sisters, Arleen Tipsword of Scott City, , Mildred Boster of Columbia, Mississippi, and Kate Kennedy of Edwardsberg, Michigan; and several nephews and nieces.
Besides his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by one brother, Stanley Young.
Graveside services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Friday June 1, 2012 at the Dexter Cemetery .
Memorials may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church in Dexter, Centenary United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau, or the American Heart Association.
