Dorothy B. Crumley Young (BSBA ’50) | March 2022
Young (née Crumley) graduated from the University of Florida in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. As a junior, in 1949 she transferred from Tallahassee’s “Florida State College for Women” (FSU) to Gainesville, “Where the Men are!”, at the insistence of her Tri-Delta Sorority sisters, entering UF’s second fully co-ed semester.
UF in 1950, as described in the yearbook The Seminole, was “far from gender inclusive…”
“…men were expected play physical sports and be in leadership positions, women were supposed to focus on more domestic activities and their appearance.”
“…the yearbook shows that there is an intentional division of men’s and women’s social activities. The co-ed social activities appear to be extremely planned out and monitored.”
In an era that highlighted golf legend Babe Zaharias, it is no surprise that some young women were inspired and inclined to break “Society’s mold”. Dorothy (Dot) was, and had always been, an outstanding student, athlete and sportsman. On an early morning duck hunt, in a marsh not known or named, she somehow plugged her father’s shotgun barrel, which split in two on the next shot! No coffee needed at 6:30 a.m. after that!
Dot excelled at Seminole High School in Sanford, FL, as a student, cheerleader and marching band drummer. She had to dash just before halftime, change into her band uniform, play the huge, wheeled, bass drum pulled by others marching around the field, and dash and change again into her cheerleader’s uniform after halftime.
In addition to the rigors of making outstanding grades at UF, which apparently came easily, she volunteered innumerable hours of personal time as Panhellenic Council President, adjudicated cases as a member of the Honor Court, and actively participated in her Tri-Delta Sorority. Dorothy’s enthusiasm, commitment, and service to the University did not go unnoticed and garnered her pioneering election as the first woman in UF’s Hall of Fame. Her photograph and superlatives are permanently “on the wall” in the Reitz Union.
At UF, Dorothy met Evert A. Young (Ev), “The oldest man I ever dated!”, completing his Mechanical Engineering major in 1948 and Civil Engineering minor, in 1949. Interrupted by WWII, Ev’s “interesting” college matriculation was through UF, to the War College, and back again. By mid-1943, Ev had completed freshmen, sophomore, and a portion of junior year at UF.
As war swung into the Pacific, Ev volunteered for service. His Naval Officer’s commission sent him through the War College and onto the campuses of MIT, Rensselaer Polytech, and Georgia Tech for demanding, exacting, and accelerated “higher-education”. Ev was assigned and commanded the U.S. Navy Mine Sweeper, YMS 160, throughout the Coral Sea, Philippines, and W. Pacific Ocean. His lifelong love for diesel boats had begun.
Ev and Dot were married in Sanford, FL in June of 1950, moved from Gainesville to Jacksonville, FL, where Dorothy was, for a time, wife and homemaker. They were blessed with four children, Robert (Bob), Richard, Theresa and Tim.
As her children grew and matured, Dot expanded her life to be the Administrative Assistant for the Superintendent of the United Methodist Church, Jacksonville, District. Music was her talent, and she sang, blessed with a beautiful soprano voice. One of her favorite songs to sing was “Fill My Cup Lord” by Richard Blanchard. She shared her talent far and wide and instilled it into the life of her family.
“The Sound of Music” was popular and the Young Family emulated the “Von Trapp Family” while performing pieces from that musical. She was a tour guide and travel hostess preparing 21-day excursions to Europe through KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. The family visited many of the castles, rivers and historic relics throughout those regions. She ran a blueprint shop in Lake Worth, FL, an adjunct to Ev’s engineering business there, earned a master’s degree in education from Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, FL and evolved to teach secondary and post-secondary classes before retiring from a career in teaching.
Ev and Dot’s footprints took them from Jacksonville, FL to live in the interesting places of Delray Beach, FL; Stuttgart and Emskirchen, Germany; Abu Dabi, United Arab Emirates; Murphy, NC; Sanibel Island, FL; Cocoa, FL; The Villages, FL; and Pt. St. Lucie, FL. Not surprising, the family resides in Florida and their children go to Florida colleges!
Bob attended and graduated from Florida Technological University (what we know today as the University of Central Florida) in Orlando, FL earning a bachelor’s in engineering degree. He earned master’s degrees in accounting from FAU. Bob worked 38-years in engineering and retired after 30-years from Florida Power and Light, Hutchinson Island, St. Lucie Nuclear Power Plant, Ft. Pierce, FL. He glows!
Following Honorable Discharge in Vietnam-era service from the USCG, sailing to the North and South Poles and “everything” in the Pacific Ocean – twice, Richard used his GI Bill benefits to attend UF, graduated in 1982 and earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering. Richard worked 38-years in engineering and retired after 31-years as a Professional Engineer for Reynolds, Smith, and Hills, Inc., Aerospace and Defense, Merritt Island, FL.
Theresa graduated from FSU with a bachelor’s degree in education and earned her master’s degree in education from Florida Atlantic University. Theresa is teaching in St. Johns County, FL, and may retire someday…her students will be devastated.
Tim was Honorably Discharged from the USCG in the early 1990s. Sadly, Tim passed in 2019.
Ev and Dot were blessed with eleven (11) grandchildren and eighteen (18) great grandchildren (so far). To the Lord Our God they have returned – Ev in July of 2004 and Dot in June of 2016. Their heirs and legacy, thankfully celebrate their lives together.
Submitted by Young’s family: Richard Young (son, UF ’82), Theresa Young Carpenter (daughter), Bob (son) and Cindy Young, Chris (grandson, UF ‘04) and Lisa Young (granddaughter-in-law, UF ’04, MBA ‘08), and Caroline Young Beasley (granddaughter, MBA ’22).
