DUANE
Duane's take
The official marker tells it this way, and I'm just Duane, passing it along. Now, Canadian, Texas — Hemphill County — is the kind of place that looks modest from the highway. But every so often, a town like that sends somebody into the wider world who reshapes it in ways you'd never guess by looking at the county line.
Robert R. Young was that somebody. He came into the world on February 14, 1897, right here in Canadian.
And not just any house — he was born in a house built by Temple Houston, lawyer, and son of Sam Houston, president of the Republic of Texas. That's the kind of founding address that sets a tone. His grandfather had been a traildriver and pioneer rancher.
His father ran the first bank in Canadian — was president of it, in fact. So Robert Young grew up knowing something about moving things, and about money, and about the weight of a name. He was educated at Old Canadian Academy, then went off to Culver Military Academy, where he won the highest honors.
Then on to the University of Virginia. In 1916, he married Anita O'Keeffe — sister of the famous painter Georgia O'Keeffe. They had a daughter.
One of his close friends, and you can take a moment with this one, was King Edward VIII of England. Canadian, Texas to the court of an English king. That's some territory covered.
In the 1920s he was assistant to the treasurer of General Motors. Then came 1929 — a year that broke a lot of men — and Robert Young made a fortune in the stock market. While others were heading for the exits, he was finding the door marked opportunity.
After years on Wall Street, he went after something bigger. He fought a proxy battle — one of the most watched in American financial history — to gain control of and modernize the New York Central Railroad. And when that fight got hard, he didn't forget where he came from.
He enlisted the help of two Texas friends: Clint Murchison and Sid Richardson. Texas money, riding to the rescue on the rails. He retained banking interests in Canadian until 1939.
He was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian church in his hometown. And when it came to the University of Texas, he remembered his native state with gifts of rare papers. There's a quieter part of this story, and it might be the one that sticks with you longest.
Robert Young's mother died when he was young. An aunt named Edith Ford stepped in and raised him. Years later, when he had all the money and all the influence a man could gather, he restored a historic local burial ground and named it the Edith Ford Cemetery — to honor her.
That's how a man settles a debt that can't be paid any other way. He maintained close ties with the people he'd known in boyhood — visits, hunting trips, correspondence — right up until January 25, 1958, when Robert R. Young's remarkable run came to its end.
Born in a house with history in its walls. Raised by a woman he never forgot. Friends with a king.
He left Canadian, but Canadian never really left him.
What the marker says
(February 14, 1897 - January 25, 1958) A leader in America's finance and transportation. Born here, in house built by lawyer Temple Houston, son of Republic of Texas President Sam Houston. His grandfather was traildriver, pioneer rancher; his father, president of the first bank in Canadian. Educated at Old Canadian Academy, Culver Military Academy (where he won highest honors), University of Virginia. Married, 1916, Anita O'Keeffe, sister of the famous painter Georgia O'Keeffe. Had a daughter. One of close friends was King Edward VIII of England. Assistant to treasurer of General Motors, 1920s. Made fortune in stock market in 1929. After years on Wall Street, won acclaim of financial world in a proxy battle to gain control of and modernize New York Central Railroad. In this fight, enlisted aid of Texas friends Clint Murchison and Sid Richardson. Until 1939, retained banking interests in Canadian. Was a lifelong member of Presbyterian church here. Remembered native state with gifts of rare papers to University of Texas. Restored an historic local burial ground, naming it "Edith Ford Cemetery," to honor an aunt who reared him after early death of his mother. Maintained close ties (in visits, hunting trips, correspondence) with people known in boyhood. (1967)