Dottie and James Young

YWCA North Orange County Proclaims
Jim and Dottie Young, Man/Woman of the Year

March 10, 2008

 

Emeritus professor of theatre James D. “Jim” Young and his wife, Dottie, were honored Feb. 29 as YWCA North Orange County’s 2008 Man and Woman of the Year.

Young founded Cal State Fullerton’s Department of Theatre — later becoming the Department of Theatre and Dance — in 1960 and witnessed its growth into a nationally acclaimed program. Subsequently, he served as associate dean for the School of Letters, Arts and Sciences and associate vice president for academic programs.

Young continued teaching part time after being granted emeritus status in 1986, and in a further commitment to Cal State Fullerton, co-founded and co-chaired the campuswide “It’s Our University” faculty/staff/emeriti campaign, created to raise much-needed funds for university programs, scholarships and departments. He was a key fundraiser and donor for the new Performing Arts Center and the 250-seat James D. Young Theatre is in honor of his contributions and commitment to the College of the Arts. The green room in the Performing Arts Center is named for Dottie Young.

Young was named an honorary alumnus at the 2003 Vision & Visionaries gala, and in 2006 with a Resolution of Commendation from the university’s Academic Senate.

Beyond the campus, Young has served as a long time member of Rotary of Fullerton and has performed his one-man show as founding Rotary Club president Paul Harris for the organization’s clubs around the world. Young also was charter president of the Marcy Arroues Mulville Memorial (MAMM) Alliance for the support of the Performing Arts at Cal State Fullerton.

Last year, he was honored with the Marcy Award by the MAMM Foundation. The award recognizes an individual who most emulates the late Marcy Mulville’s passion for and support of the enhancement of life in Orange County. In 2005, he was awarded a Cultural Legacy Award for lifetime achievement as an artistic visionary by Arts Orange County.

By Young’s side since 1943 has been his wife, Dorothy. From 1947-1958, when her husband served as head of the Speech and Drama Department at Pepperdine College, Dorothy was a member of the Faculty Wives and served as the organization’s president. When Young moved to Cal State Fullerton, Dorothy became an active participant of its Faculty Wives.

A fellow educator, Dorothy was a master teacher at 74th Street School in Los Angeles and taught first and second grades at Golden Hill School in Fullerton for 21 years.

Dorothy volunteered in drives for the American Heart Association and for breast cancer organizations, was involved in the founding of the Fullerton Arboretum and the Muckenthaler Center, and served in PTA groups at Ladera Vista Junior High School and Fullerton High School. She serves on the health and hospitality committees at Morningside in Fullerton. “She is always out there doing something for someone,” says a proud husband.