Background

Rosamond McPherson Young was born on October 4, 1912 in Dayton, Ohio, United States. Her parents were Harry W. McPherson, an artist, and Isabel Gilbert McPherson.

Education

Rosamond McPherson Young graduated from Dayton's Steele High School in 1930 and received a Bachelor's degree in 1934 and a Master's degree in 1936 from Oberlin College.

Career

Rosamond McPherson Young served as an educator for 30 years at Wilbur Wright and then High School, both in Dayton.

For over 25 years she has worked as a journalist at the Dayton Journal Herald and Dayton Daily News, writing at first daily columns from 1970 to 1982, and from 1982 until her death in 2005 she wrote weekly columns on a variety of subjects from history, culture and everyday events in Dayton to the exploits of her beloved cat Edith.

In addition to her weekly column, Young wrote academic textbooks, fiction, history, and popular literature. Her books were variously published under the names Rosamond McPherson, Rosamond McPherson Young, and Roz Young. Young has also written biographies of some of the area’s most prominent citizens, including Boss Kettering and the Wright Brothers. During her career spanning more than 50 years, Roz Young has emphasized the effective uses of language and called attention to the importance of clear communication.

Achievements

• Young was a recipient of numerous awards, including the Aviation Space Writing Award from Space Writers of America in 1979 for "Twelve Seconds to the Moon", Flying Colonel Award from Delta Airlines, Women in Communications Award in 1984, Distinguished Daytonian Award from Miami Jacobs Junior College in 1985, Thanks for the Memories Award from Alzheimer’s Society in 1988.
  
  She also won the Cat’s Meow Award from Humane Society of Greater Dayton in 1989 and Caring and Sharing Award in 1991.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Two Perfectly Marvellous Cats 1996
  • Cat, Thy Name Is Edith 1991
  • Boss Ket: A life of Charles F. Kettering 1961
  • Edith: The Cat Who Ate an Elm Tree 1976

Religion

Young was a member of St. George's Episcopal Church.

Membership

Roz Young was a member of the Authors League of America and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Interests

• gardening, painting, travel, music

Connections

Rosamond McPherson married former widower William Adam Young, a camp director, on November 17, 1953. She became widowed in 1966.

Father:

Harry W. McPherson

Mother:

Isabel Gilbert McPherson

late spouse:

William Adam Young

Friend:

Phyllis Dorothy James

Novelist P. D. James described their friendship in a column memorializing Young.

References

• Contemporary Authors New Revision Series. Volume 154
• Revisiting Roz Young