John Andrew Young
Encyclopedia
John Andrew Young was an Democratic
politician from Texas
who served in the U.S. House of Representatives
from 1957 to 1979.
Born in Corpus Christi, Texas
, Young attended Incarnate Word Academy
and Corpus Christi College-Academy. He earned his B.A.
at St. Edward's University
in 1937 and his L.L.B from the University of Texas School of Law
in 1940. After starting his career as a lawyer, he served in the United States Navy
from 1941 to 1945.
Young served as a lawyer for Nueces County, Texas in various positions, as assistant county attorney
in 1946, assistant district attorney
from 1947 to 1950, county attorney
from 1951 to 1952 and county judge from 1953 to 1956. He ran successfully as a Democrat
for the U.S. House of Representatives
in 1956, defeating incumbent John J. Bell
in the primary election
and winning the general election
. He took seat in 1957 and was reelected ten times.
Young came under fire in his 1976 when a former female member of his staff, Colleen Gardner, accused him of requiring her to have sex in order to keep her job. Young was married with five children at the time. His wife, Jane, committed suicide on July 13, 1977 by a gunshot to the head. The scandal caused his defeat to Joseph P. Wyatt, Jr.
in the primary election
in 1978 and he left office in 1979. Afterwards, he worked as a consultant
until his death on January 22, 2002. He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery
in Arlington, Virginia.
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
politician from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
who served in the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 1957 to 1979.
Born in Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi is a coastal city in the South Texas region of the U.S. state of Texas. The county seat of Nueces County, it also extends into Aransas, Kleberg, and San Patricio counties. The MSA population in 2008 was 416,376. The population was 305,215 at the 2010 census making it the...
, Young attended Incarnate Word Academy
Incarnate Word Academy (Corpus Christi, Texas)
Incarnate Word Academy is a private, Roman Catholic high school in Corpus Christi, Texas. It is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi.-Background:...
and Corpus Christi College-Academy. He earned his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
at St. Edward's University
St. Edward's University
St. Edward's University is a private Roman Catholic institution of higher learning located south of Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas. The university offers a liberal arts education and its campus is located on a hill overlooking the city of Austin. The campus's most notable landmark is Main...
in 1937 and his L.L.B from the University of Texas School of Law
University of Texas School of Law
The University of Texas School of Law, also known as UT Law, is an ABA-certified American law school located on the University of Texas at Austin campus. The law school has been in operation since the founding of the University in 1883. It was one of only two schools at the University when it was...
in 1940. After starting his career as a lawyer, he served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
from 1941 to 1945.
Young served as a lawyer for Nueces County, Texas in various positions, as assistant county attorney
County attorney
A county attorney in many areas of the United States is the chief legal officer for a county or local judicial district. It is usually an elected position...
in 1946, assistant district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
from 1947 to 1950, county attorney
County attorney
A county attorney in many areas of the United States is the chief legal officer for a county or local judicial district. It is usually an elected position...
from 1951 to 1952 and county judge from 1953 to 1956. He ran successfully as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
for the U.S. House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in 1956, defeating incumbent John J. Bell
John J. Bell
John Junior Bell was a U.S. Representative from Texas.Born in Cuero, Texas, Bell attended the public schools.He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1932 and from its law school in 1936....
in the primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
and winning the general election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
. He took seat in 1957 and was reelected ten times.
Young came under fire in his 1976 when a former female member of his staff, Colleen Gardner, accused him of requiring her to have sex in order to keep her job. Young was married with five children at the time. His wife, Jane, committed suicide on July 13, 1977 by a gunshot to the head. The scandal caused his defeat to Joseph P. Wyatt, Jr.
Joseph P. Wyatt, Jr.
Joseph Peyton Wyatt, Jr. served as a U.S. Representative from Texas.-Biography:Born in Victoria, Wyatt attended the Victoria County public schools.He attended Victoria College, 1964.B.A., University of Texas, 1968....
in the primary election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
in 1978 and he left office in 1979. Afterwards, he worked as a consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
until his death on January 22, 2002. He was interred at Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
in Arlington, Virginia.