Born in Indian Territory in 1904, R.A. Young was an astute businessman who loved Oklahoma. His commitment to the state was evident in not only his business life but also through his philanthropy. One of the founders of TG&Y, Mr. Young oversaw a company that grew from a regional chain in the 1930s to a national player.
Mr. Young was generous with both his business expertise and his giving to many civic and charitable organizations including the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber.
A graduate of Oklahoma State University, Mr. Young endowed several chairs at his alma mater and Oklahoma Baptist University. He also awarded numerous scholarships to worthy students attending college or university in Oklahoma. Mr. Young and his wife Verna also established a scholarship at Casady School in memory of their daughter Carolyn Young Hodnett.
Following Mr. Young's death in 2001, a gift from the couple's estate established the R.A. Young Foundation Fund at the Oklahoma City Community Foundation. The fund annually supports several local charitable organizations and causes that were important to Mr. Young, including the public library in his hometown of Kingfisher, Oklahoma.