University of Wyoming
An innovator considered one of the very best in his field, Bill Young was named Wyoming’s Sports Information Director in 1960. He served in that capacity for 16 years, before becoming an Assistant Athletics Director in April of 1975. Twice during that time he was named Acting Athletics Director (1980 and 1981).
In 1982, Young moved from the athletics department to UW News Service, and retired as its director in 1995.
Young was inducted into the University of Wyoming Intercollegiate Athletics Hall of Fame in 2003. He was elected to the CoSIDA Hall of Fame in 1970. He also was a past president of CoSIDA in 1968. In 1972, Young received the group’s highest honor, the Arch Ward Award. In 1978, the Wyoming Chapter of Sigma Delta Chi honored him with the Frank Norris, Jr., Award of Merit, given in recognition of distinguished service in journalism through the practice of media relations.
A 1955 journalism graduate of Southern Illinois University, Young earned a master’s degree in American Studies from UW. Prior to entering the sports information profession, he was a newspaper reporter. He also was a captain in the United States Air Force.
Bill Young, a pioneer in the media relations profession and a remarkable administrator for the University of Wyoming for over 35 years, passed away on Thursday (Jan. 9, 2020) following a short illness. He was 87.
This page was last updated January 31, 2020.
