Leon Young | |
---|---|
Mayor of Colorado Springs, Colorado | |
In office 1997–1997 | |
Preceded by | Bob Isaac |
Succeeded by | Mary Lou Makepeace |
Vice Mayor of Colorado Springs, Colorado | |
In office 1981–1997 | |
City Council of Colorado Springs, Colorado | |
In office 1973–2001 | |
Personal details | |
Born | 1924 West Monroe, Louisiana |
Died | 2001 (aged 76–77) Colorado Springs, Colorado |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse | Margaret Lyon |
Children | 1 |
Military service | |
Branch/service | United States Navy |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Leon Young (1924–2001) was an American politician from Colorado Springs, Colorado. He served on the city council of Colorado Springs and was the city's first African-American mayor.
Young was born in 1924 in West Monroe, Louisiana. [1] He was raised by his grandparents after his father died when he was 5 and his mother when he was 10. [1] Having to work, he did not complete the 10th grade. [1] At the age of 18, he moved to Colorado Springs where his aunt lived. [1] He enrolled at Colorado Springs High School but dropped out to work at a shoe repair store and later as a doorman and bartender at the El Paso Club. [1] In 1943, he enlisted in the US Navy where he served during World War II. [1] In 1945, he returned to Colorado Springs and founded Young Janitorial Services which went on to become one of the most successful Black-owned businesses in Colorado. [1]
In 1973, Young was elected to the Colorado Springs City Council [1] [2] [3] despite Colorado Springs being 86.6% non-Hispanic white in 1970. [4] In 1981, he was unanimously appointed as Vice Mayor where he served until 1997. [1] In 1997, he was elevated to interim Mayor after the early retirement and resignation of mayor Bob Isaac becoming the first African-American mayor of the city. [1] [5] He continued to serve on the City Council until his death in 2001. [1]
In 1945, he married Margaret; they had a daughter, Denise Young Smith, in 1955. [1] [6]