Leon Young (mayor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Leon Young
Mayor of Colorado Springs, Colorado
In office 1997–1997
Preceded by	Bob Isaac
Succeeded by	Mary Lou Makepeace
Vice Mayor of Colorado Springs, Colorado
In office 1981–1997
City Council of Colorado Springs, Colorado
In office 1973–2001
Personal details
Born	1924 West Monroe, Louisiana
Died	2001 (aged 76–77) Colorado Springs, Colorado
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Margaret Lyon
Children	1
Military service
Branch/service	United States Navy
Battles/wars	World War II

Leon Young (1924–2001) served as the first African-American mayor of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Biography

Young was born in 1924 in West Monroe, Louisiana. He was raised by his grandparents after his father died when he was 5 and his mother when he was 10. Having to work, he did not complete the 10th grade. At the age of 18, he moved to Colorado Springs where his aunt lived. He enrolled at Colorado Springs High School but dropped out to work at a shoe repair store and later as a doorman and bartender at the El Paso Club. In 1943, he enlisted in the US Navy where he served during World War II. In 1945, he returned to Colorado Springs and founded Young Janitorial Services which went on to become one of the most successful Black-owned businesses in Colorado. In 1973, he was elected to the Colorado Springs City Council despite Colorado Springs being 86.6% White in 1970. In 1981, he was unanimously appointed as Vice Mayor where he served until 1997. In 1997, he was elevated to interim Mayor after the early retirement and resignation of mayor Bob Isaac becoming the first African-American mayor of the city. He continued to serve on the City Council until his death in 2001.

Personal life

In 1945, he married Margaret; they had a daughter, Denise Young Smith, in 1955.