Former prominent member of the judiciary passes away

A former public officer and prominent member of the judiciary passed away in the United States. Horace Walwyn Young, died on Sunday morning at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Miami where he was being treated for some time as age and failing health took a toll on him. Young worked his way through the clerical ranks of government service as soon as finished high school in 1937 but by 1952 he took up a course in law at the University of Southampton in England and was called to the English Bar five years later. Young returned to Belize and served in various capacities including Crown Counsel, Solicitor General, and in 1961, Young went into private practice, still serving in various positions in the judiciary and the government service. He retired in 1998 after more than thirty years practicing law. His son Michael, of Young’s Law Firm, remembers Young both as a father and a man dedicated to his country.

Michael Young, Son of Horace Young

“He in fact had a long and very full life; he had a good life and he was a strong man. He was an athlete in his younger years and very determined, strong both of body and of mind and he had two knee replacements some years ago and then he had fallen and broken his leg. He actually at one point suffered a fractured spine and just the years caught up with him, took a toll on his body and his organs eventually failed and so he passed away.”

Delahnie Bain

“How has the family—I know a lot of them are abroad—but how has the family been coping since the loss?”

Michael Young

“I think well. No doubt it’s painful for us because he naturally has been the center of our family and I would say the head of the family. But we know that are here only for a time, we recognize that with him, we appreciate the long time that he has been with us. He was a person who had this tremendous sense of humor right up until the very end. So notwithstanding the personal feeling of loss because he is not here with us, we have nothing but gratitude and appreciation for his life.”

Delahnie Bain

“He did spend many years in public service in Belize. What has been the general sentiment coming from the friends and the other people here that knew him?”

Michael Young

“The sentiment has been one of really overwhelming support. I can say that—and I know that the other members of the family feel this way—we are touched, humbled and overwhelmed by the love and support that we have gotten from all sectors of the society. He was once president of the Library Association, he was involved with the Cricket Association, I think he was with football, he was also president of the Bar at one point. He was judge advocate I think for the B.D.F. so he has served the community in many capacities and he always did this, to my mind, in a humble fashion.”

Young will be buried on Saturday in Miami where the majority of his family now resides. A service will be held at Wesley Church next Friday to give thanks to his friends and family in Belize. Young leaves behind a wife of sixty years, seven children—four daughters and three sons—as well as fifteen grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren.