Memorial Services Planned for Two-Time All-American Center Jake Young

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Memorial services for Jacob C. Young are planned in Kansas City, Mo., and Midland, Texas. The 34-year-old former University of Nebraska All-American football player was in Bali when a bomb attack killed nearly 200 people on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2002. Young was in Bali competing in a final rugby tournament with his Hong Kong Football Club teammates prior to moving back to Kansas City after working for a law firm, Clifford Chance in Hong Kong, the last two years.

Young?s wife Laura and their 2-year-old son Wilson had already returned to the United States to move into their new home in Kansas City, Mo., where Jake was to begin work on Oct. 16, as a lawyer at Dickinson Financial Corp.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Oct. 26, at 11 a.m. at Christ Church, 5500 West 91st St., Overland Park, Kan., 66207. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Jake Young Award c/o University of Nebraska Foundation, 1111 Lincoln Mall, Lincoln, Neb., 68508 or to Jake Young Memorial Fund c/o Bank Midwest, 1100 Main St., Suite 215, Kansas City, Mo., 64015.

A memorial service will also be held in Midland, Texas, where he graduated from high school and his parents, Jacob and Barbara Young, reside. The service will be Wednesday, Oct. 30, at 4 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Midland, Texas.

Former Nebraska All-America center Jake Young

"On behalf of the Nebraska football family, we extend our heartfelt condolences to all the families of this attack," said Coach Frank Solich. "We feel great sorrow for Jake?s family. He was an outstanding person and father. He had great character, was an excellent student and one of the best Husker centers of all time."

Young was a two-time GTE/CoSIDA Academic All-American for Coach Tom Osborne and the Huskers, earning four letters from 1986 to 1989. He graduated with a degree in finance in 1989. As a senior, Young was a Lombardi semifinalist and earned the coveted NCAA Today?s Top Six Award. He was the third Husker center in the Tom Osborne era to be a two-time first-team All-American, joining Rik Bonness (1974-75) and Dave Rimington (1981-82). A three-year starter for offensive line coach Milt Tenopir, Young assisted Nebraska to top three national rankings in rushing all four years of his career, and to NCAA rushing titles in 1988 and 1989. Moving to the varsity during his first week on campus, Young played guard for both the varsity and freshman teams in 1986. He saw enough playing time with the varsity to become the first true freshman to earn a letter on the offensive line since freshman eligibility was restored in 1972. He was inducted into the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame in 2000 and was a frequent visitor at his alma mater.

Young was well-loved by teammates and coaches. Nebraska offensive line coach Milt Tenopir said he was an outstanding player and person. "Jake was the most intense player that I have ever coached. His zest for the game was infectious for all his teammates.

"Jake and his lineman buddies on those teams have remained close friends and have always included me in their annual reunions," said Tenopir. "The relationship that Jake and I shared was more of a father-son type, than coach-player. We will all be better people because of Jake and we will miss him greatly."

Young had worked for two Kansas City law firms from 1993 to 2000 following his graduation from UNL law school in 1994. He then joined the Clifford Chance law firm in Hong Kong, where he practiced international law. He was a member of the Missouri and New York bars. He also served on the board of directors of the UNL Alumni Association.

The son of Jake Sr., and Barbara Young of Midland, Jake was an all-state offensive guard at Midland Lee High School for Coach Jack Tayrien. Jake has one sister, Erin Hoffman of (Houston).

For further information, contact Christ Church (913) 648-2271 or Newcomers Funeral Chapel (816) 561-0024.

Condolences can be sent to Laura Young, 8912 Cedar Lane, Prairie Village, KS, 66207; or Jake and Barbara Young, 1411 Sparks St., Midland, TX, 79701.