Andrew Spurgeon “Doc” Young was an American sports journalist and author. He was also one of the first African American publicists working in Hollywood. Throughout his career he received numerous honors from the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

Background

Andrew Spurgeon Young was born in Dunbrooke, Virginia, the eldest child of Andrew P. Young and Gertrude Norman. In 1941, he graduated from Hampton Institute (now Hampton University) with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. While a student at Hampton, he served as editor of the school newspaper.

Career

As a young man, he was influenced by the work of Frank A. (Fay) Young (no relation), the first African American to have a weekly sports column.

Young also has the distinction of being the first black publicist in Hollywood. He worked as a unit publicist on the films The Defiant Ones and Kings Go Forth.

Additionally, Young is the author of several books, including Negro Firsts in Sports (Johnson Publishing Company, 1963).

Death

Young died in 1996 from pneumonia in Los Angeles.