Clair Young Memorial Fund for Youth Workforce Development

Clair Young of New Milford

Clair Young was the Blue Ridge High School Principal for 14 Years. During that age there were no assistant principals, and he also managed the district bussing routes. On a snowy winter morning he would be out at 5 a.m. checking the back roads to be sure the buses could get through. Clair managed the school in a caring and friendly manner. He was always trying to do what was best for every student. Students and staff liked him. 24 years later he was still invited to the retired Blue Ridge faculty member’s breakfasts.

Mr. Young also served both the New Milford School and Blue Ridge as a math teacher, coach, and athletic director. Many, many students will remember his homespun homilies, “Get in mind what you’re trying to do!”, “Get the kite down without breaking it!”, and many more repeated regularly. He was important in many students’ lives. He was invited to emcee the New Milford alumni banquet every year, where of course he would share a few stories.

When three high schools merged to form Blue Ridge School District, new uniforms, mascot, etc. were needed by the athletic department. Since red was his favorite color, Clair persuaded all the students to vote for red and white as the school colors. He’s the reason Blue Ridge has no blue.

Born and raised on a farm near Mifflinburg, he attended Lock Haven College as a physical education major. World War II interrupted his education and he served his country as a flight navigator in the Army Air Corps. Following the war he completed his undergraduate education at Lock Haven and his Masters Degree from Springfield College. While in college he played and coached several sports and studied math as an extra major. He learned trigonometry from a book since it wasn’t being taught as a class by the math department.

He married Marie Bulger and they spent several years in Illinois, where he taught and coached at the orphanage called Moosehart.

They moved to New Milford in 1952 and Clair served the community for 50 plus years. He was a member of the Fire Department, Rotary, Swimming Pool Committee, Methodist Church, American Legion, Odd Fellows, Borough Council, and VFW. He enjoyed trout fishing and working in his garden.

Clair Young was an unpretentious, caring man. He regularly went out of his way to help less fortunate people. He did many favors for many people and it’s hoped that this small memorial will continue to do that.