(UPDATED at 3:48 p.m.)



State Democratic Rep. Charles Young, 77, died at Rush Hospital at 10:55 today. Funeral arrangements are incomplete for Young.

According to his daughter, Vel Young, Mr. Young was undergoing physical therapy at Rush Foundation Hospital when he began to have complications and suffered a massive heart attack.



Bio, photos and quotes from officials:





Bio of Young:



State Rep. Charles Lemuel Young, who died today at 10:55 a.m. at Rush Hospital, was born in Meridian, on Aug. 27, 1931. His parents were E.F. Young Jr. and Velma E. Beal Young.

Mr. Young was elected in 1979 to his first term in the Mississippi Legislature, taking office in January 1980. He was the longtime chairman of the House Universities and Colleges Committee and served in recent years on the following committees: Ways and Means, Banking, Joint Reapportionment and Redistricting and Transportation. He was a former chairman of the House Municipalities Committee.

As the influential chairman of the Universities and Colleges Committee, Rep. Young played a major role in the development of the state's system of higher education, both on budget and policy matters. As a result, Mississippi's system of higher education emerged in recent years as one of the strongest systems in the Southeastern part of the United States. He served on several special task forces appointed by the Speaker of the Mississippi House, including a panel to study the state's criminal justice system and another to study the state's system of property taxation.

He was long active in the Southern Legislative Conference, an organization of legislative leaders from 16 southern states. He served SLC as chairman of its Economic and Cultural Development Committee. He served as chairman of the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus, which was formed in 1980 to provide a forum for African-American legislators to discuss issues of interest to minority citizens.

Rep. Young was a successful businessman as president of E.F. Young Jr. Manufacturing Company located in Meridian, Mississippi. The company manufactures personal care products. He was honored as Mississippi's Minority Business Person of the Year, and was a major stockholder in the ownership of several Mississippi television stations. He served his home business community as a member of the board of directors of the Greater Meridian Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Young was honored by numerous civic and business organizations in the Meridian and East Central Mississippi area for his many contributions to the community.

Rep. Young attended the Meridian public schools and received a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Tennessee State University. He served in the U.S. Army and received the Bronze Star for duty in the Korean War.

In addition to his business and legislative activities, Rep. Young was very active in youth organizations in his community.







Quotes:



Jimmy Smith – he and Mr. Young have been friends for more than 25 years.

"He was a prince of a guy. He loved people and always looked for the good in everyone."





Reaction of Speaker McCoy, Rep. Broomfield to death of Rep. Young

House Speaker Billy McCoy today said he was deeply saddened to hear of the death of longtime House member Rep. Young.

“I served with Chairman Young for 29 years. He was one of the most astute members of the House of Representatives – one of the master legislators to serve in this body,” McCoy said. “He was always a gentleman in everything he did. He loved the House and we loved him back.”

Rep. Billy Broomfield of Moss Point said he first met Rep. Young at various political conventions in the 1970s, and when Broomfield was elected, “Mr. Young was one of the people who took me under his wing and told me he was going to make sure that I learned all the ‘do’s’ and ‘don’ts’ of being a member of the Legislature, so you can be effective back home.”

Broomfield said Young “was like a father and a mentor to me. We sat side by side for 18 years and not a day has gone by when we did not share something positive. I watched him and admired him for those 18 years and it was disheartening to see him go down the way he did.

“He is going to be sorely missed by all of his colleagues. We all loved him but I had a special kind of love for Charles Young,” Broomfield said. “Our prayers are with his family at this time.”



STATEMENT OF GOVERNOR BARBOUR ON THE PASSING OF REP. CHARLES YOUNG



“Charles Young was an absolute gentleman. Everyone who worked with

him thought so, including Marsha and me. We will miss him.”



Chairman Jamie Franks on the passing of Rep. Young:

Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Jamie Franks today released the following statement on the death of Rep. Charles Young:

"I had the great honor to serve with Rep. Young when I was in the Legislature. He was a tremendous man and a remarkable legislator. He will be missed by those who knew him, and his absence will be felt by those with whom he served."















More details as they become available.