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Secretaries of L&I

1963-1967

William P. Young

Photo of William P. Young

William P. Young was born in East Orange, NJ, and attended public schools there until transferring to the Downingtown College Prep. Classes; he graduated from Lincoln University in Chester County where he was valedictorian of his class and received his Bachelor and Master of Arts degrees. Later, he was a graduate teacher in German, English, and Argumentation at Lincoln.

After his graduation from college in 1923, Young worked at Lockhart Iron and Steel Co. He was sports editor and later editor of the Pittsburgh American — a Pittsburgh African-American weekly publication — and vice-president and part-owner of the Cutis Loan Co.

His civic and community associations include: Vice-president of the Homewood Community Improvement Association; board member of Pittsburgh Urban League for 15 years; and a senate membership in the Homewood-Brushtown Citizens Renewal Council. He was president of the Leondi Social Club for four terms; he served as a board member of the Irene Kaufman and Anna B. Heldman Settlement and the American Service Institute.

Young was regarded in the Pittsburgh area as a pioneer in improved race relations and organized the first race relations committee in McKees Rocks.

He became the second African-American to achieve cabinet rank in Pennsylvania when he was appointed Secretary of the Department of Labor and Industry on January 15, 1963, by Governor William Scranton.

From PA Manual, 1963-64.