David Young

June 9, 1939 – April 7, 2020

David R. Young was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 9, 1939, and raised in Concordia, Kansas. He passed away suddenly in his home in Omaha, Nebraska, on April 7, 2020, with his wife Jeannette at his side.

Dave was a high school band director for fifty-one years. He was a graduate of the College of Emporia and earned his Master’s degree at Wichita State University. He served as band director at Cottonwood Falls High School, Kansas; Sedgwick High School, Kansas; Schuyler Central High School, Nebraska (1968-1977); Bellevue East High School, Nebraska (1977-1997, 1999); and Lincoln Southeast High School, Nebraska (2001-2014, part time). He retired three times, going back twice because he loved working with students so much.

The marching bands, concert bands, and jazz bands that he taught excelled in competitive performance, consistently achieving top ranks and winning countless awards. The Bellevue East Marching Chieftains performed at the 1986 re-dedication of the Statue of Liberty in New York City, the Portland Rose Parade, Walt Disney World in Florida, the Red River Exhibition in Winnipeg, Canada, and many other places.

He was very active in many professional music associations, notably the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association (NSBA) and Phi Beta Mu Music Fraternity. Over the course of his decades of involvement with NSBA, he served as president, secretary, marching band chair, and webmaster. He helped develop the Nebraska State Marching Contest and remained involved with it for many years. He received numerous awards and honors for his work, including the Duane E. Johnson Distinguished Award, the Donald A. Lentz Outstanding Bandmaster Award, the Nebraska Music Education Association Hall of Fame, and many other awards.

Besides music, he enjoyed model railroading and woodworking. Since retirement, he had been working toward the goal of turning the basement into a miniature railroad wonderland.

He is preceded in death by his son Michael Young and his parents David A. and Dottie Young. He is survived by his wife Jeannette Young, daughter Kristi (Paul) Richling, step-daughter Angela Kroeger, grandsons Zachary and Tyler Richling, brother Bill (Joyce) Young, sister Carol (Charlie) Godbold, and many nieces and nephews.

Service will be held at a later date.