In Memoriam: Floyd David Young Jr., 1938-2019

Floyd Young was the founder and president of FDY Inc. a food services company that provided services to historically Black Johnson C. Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina, for more than 30 years, has died. Young was 81 years old.

Young was a major supporter of Jonhson C. Smith University. He provided financial assistance to more than 100 students through the Floyd and Norma Young Annual Scholarship. He was inducted into the Biddle Society, JCSU’s highest giving society, as a result of his steadfast financial support. In addition, he employed numerous students to help them pay for their education.

Clarence D. Armbrister, president of Johnson C. Smith University, stated that Young “made many tangible and intangible contributions to JCSU. Not only was he dedicated to providing high-quality food and customer service to nourish students’ bodies, but he was also dedicated to nourishing their minds and their souls.”

A native of San Augustine, Texas, Young was educated in the same one-room schoolhouse for first to 12th grade. He attended Prairie View A&M University in Texas and Indiana State University.

Young came to Charlotte in 1969. He served as director of food services at Johnson C. Smith University. In 1982, he started FDY Inc. which became the food service provider for Johnson C. Smith University and other colleges, universities, and corporations. He later became a franchise operator for Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits.

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