Richard Young—1952-53 Wildcat Football
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Richard Young
played defense and was the second quarterback behind Arab Morris in 1952,
but he was the starting quarterback in 1953. During his two years,
the Wildcats racked up 18 victories, only one loss, one tie and one state
championship during the two years.
His sophomore
season at Pearl River, Young passed for over 1,400 yards and threw for
15 touchdowns. That year Holden had Young running the spread and shotgun
formations. PRC is one of the first, or the first, according to some
reports, to ever run these formations.
Young also played
baseball at PRC and established a .340 batting average.
Young transferred
to the University of Georgia, and while playing for Walley Butts, he led
the Southeastern Conference in passing yards and touchdowns his 1955 senior
year. Midway through the season he was the leading passer in the
nation, eventually finishing fifth.
Young played
with PRC Sports Hall of Fame's Bill Mitchell, Lonnie Anderson, Alton Shell,
and Doug Holcomb. At Georgia, Young passed to the legendary Jimmy
Orr of the famed Baltimore Colts Johnny Unitas to Orr combination
When Young finished
the 1955 season, Alabama Governor Gob James held the rushing title from
Auburn, Tennessee's Johnny Majors led in total offense, and Ole Miss's
Eagle Day was second to Young in passing.
After Young
finished at Georgia, he joined the Navy and was stationed at the Naval
Aviation Base in Pensacola, where he played three years of service football
against other teams which included men like Forrest Gregg and NFL Hall
of Fame's Willie Davis.
After the service,
Young and a brother started an automobile dealership in Pensacola.
This operation eventually included a mobile home business and the development
of a couple of recreational vehicle parks.
In 1987 Young
began having double vision, and after checking with a neurologist and having
test run, Young was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.