James Allen Young

Jim Young, born on January 5, 1936, was a lifelong resident of Indiana and a graduate of Shortridge High School and Herron School of Art. He had an illustrious – and long – career as a photojournalist with the Indianapolis News, and then at the Indianapolis Star as he neared retirement.  During his 33 year tenure at the paper, he was recognized for his talent by receiving many awards, including the renowned Bushemi 3 times from the Associated Press. Jim was also an adjunct faculty member teaching photography at Butler University and could be found walking the grounds of the campus with students in tow, cameras around their necks.

He loved telling stories of being a photographer and was grateful that he found a career that so suited him.  Although known as a very quiet man by his family, his photos showed a different side: The images were powerful, full of life and insight into the human condition. He had a gift for telling the world who he was through his work rather than his words.

Jim spent his working days driving around, map in hand, finding things to photograph, or heading to a specific assignment. In his later years his primary focus was sports and you’d find him on the sidelines of home Colts games with his huge telephoto lens, or cross-legged on the floor behind the goal at a Pacers game.  He would spend the entire month of May at the Motor Speedway and the Indy 500 was something he always enjoyed.

The crowning glory of his career was the Tony Kiritsis hostage situation in downtown Indianapolis.  He happened to be on the scene when the whole thing went down and was in the thick of it throughout the 60+ hour ordeal.  His kids remember the radio playing in the kitchen with non-stop live coverage and not quite understanding what a hostage was, but worrying whether their dad would be OK.  There was talk of a Pulitzer for this work, but the story goes that someone at the paper submitted the wrong photo to the competition.

He was voted Indiana’s best photographer in a “best of” issued of Indianapolis Monthly Magazine in the 80s.

Jim loved animals of all kinds, especially his cats and dogs and enjoyed watching the antics of the birds and squirrels through his picture window. There was always a full feeder for his outdoor friends.  Besides his wife Kathy, his dogs Kosmo, then Bob, were the loves of his life.

Jim was a talented artist, drawing and painting being his passions, even his elaborate doodles being out of this world. A woman at the grocery store once asked him if she could keep his list, she was so taken by the artwork on it. His larger-than-life paintings, many of them Pollack-esque, lined the walls of the family home along with blown-up photos of some of his favorites, despite the subject matter not always being of the displaying-kind. He continued to doodle and sketch throughout his life and took a life drawing class at the Indianapolis Art Center just a few years ago. Art of all forms was always his passion and his bookshelves are still filled with books of everything from the great masters to Richard Avedon and Annie Leibowitz. He could tell you about a picture or a painting and know exactly which book you’d find it in.

He was a voracious reader and super smart – he always knew every single answer on Jeopardy. He was into gourmet cooking and cookware but his children always cringed on the days he’d decide to clean out the refrigerator and throw whatever he could find for an un-kid-friendly concoction.

Although Jim didn’t want kids, he ended up with 4 of ’em!  Laura Ledgewood (Mike), Chris Young (Julissa), Mindy Marshall (Ken) and Jennifer Rigsby (Dan). In his later years, family became one of his most important things and he would say as they were leaving, “Nice seeing you. Come ’round anytime. I’ll be here.” He spent his life being a man of very few words and discovered his voice when he was about 70. One of his favorite activities was hitting the pause button while watching TV with family and friends to stop and tell them a story.  Family and friends also reflect fondly on Jim’s response time to questions. It wouldn’t be unusual to toss a question Jim’s way and he wouldn’t start in on his response until 20 minutes later, well after the inquirer had moved on. They’d hear him start talking, often in a different room by that time, only to realize what was happening.

Jim was preceded in death by his first wife Martha (Edwards), his beloved and equally kooky wife Kathy (Olvey), and his grandson Nicholas Young.

He leaves behind 4 grandkids: Sophia Ledgerwood (Konnor Presnell), Cecelia Ledgerwood, Ava Rigsby, and Tristan Rigsby, and 3 great grandchildren: George Ledgerwood, Kennedy and Reagan Presnell.

The family would like to acknowledge Lavonna Miles, Jim’s friend and caregiver the past few years, and her daughter Tia Hollen. Lavonna’s compassionate, competent, and fun nature made her the perfect fit for Jim, and it is thanks to her that he was able to stay at home, even while in hospice care. Lavonna was the family’s guardian angel and they are forever grateful.

Jim truly was one-of-a-kind. He will be missed, not only for his talents, but more importantly for his wit, humor, and charm and his unique perspective of the world.