Doyle "Bunk" Young
Vice Principal / Principal 62 - 72

01/1933 - 07/1973

In regards to "Bunk" Young, I believe he passed away in 71-72 time frame at the age of 40 from a heart attack I have 4 younger sisters who all attended( not graduate) from AHS and I remember when this happened. Seemed he went to his doctor with what was mis-diagnosed as indigestion and when he got back to school died in the hallway.

Don't know if you remember Riley's Sporting Goods. That was my dad and his dad. However, my dad died of a heart attack during Christmas break when I was sophomore in 1966 and then my grandad in the summer of 1968 from complications of a heart attack a few years earlier.

I mention this because after my dad passed away, I became somewhat of a rebel. Between the remainder of my sophomore year and the beginning of my senior year, Bunk and I would cross paths many times.
I dyed my hair a bleach red and starting growing my hair long( it actually touched my ears) and at that time, no one did that or was allowed to.
Bunk would catch me in the hallway in between classes and come up to me and warm me to get my hair cut or he would kick me out of school. Bunk knew my dad and did business with him as did many teachers, coaches etc. I refused to get my hair cut so I avoided Bunk by changing my patterns to class.
Bunk caught onto that, and would eventually catch up with me. Each time, he would put his arm around me and tell me that he was just trying to help me since my dad was now gone. Of course, I rejected that and use to tell him that he would die in that school from worrying about others too much.
Bunk usually got his way and of course wielded power and a pretty big board for busting butt. He use to call my mom all the time telling her that he would have to kick me out if I didn't cut my hair. Mom would try, but couldn't do anything about it.
Finally, Bunk got me out of class and loaded me into his blue pick up truck and promptly drove me toTed's barbershop and paid to get my haircut, I believe $1. He further instructed Ted, to cut it short and when Ted got through with me I was shorn good. Additionally, I had to listen to Ted try to evangelize me while he was sharpening his blade on those leather straps that hung by the chairs. I wasn't always sure what was going to get cut, my hair or my throat! It was so embarassing to go back to school and face everyone beacuse it was really cut short.
That didn't stop me and I just grew it back long and Bunk I'm sure trying to help my mom out would not kick me out of school. Instead, he would just take me to Ted's again and we would go through that same routine, until I finally grew out of it before my senior year.

Thought I would share this
Thxs
Jeff Riley (Class of 69)
Cape Coral, Fla

Bunk Young came to Arkansas High in 1962 from the Texas side.  If I remember right he came when Swede Lee became football coach/ athletic director.  He was the JV football coach and everyone beat us.  He was a good man, strict and funny in his own way.  We don't think we won a JV game.  Everyone beat us, Tex High JV put it on us 62-0 and 60-6 I believe. It wasn't his coaching, we just were not any good his first year.  I think we had a total of about 25 out for all of football (JV & varsity) and some played both Thursday night and Friday night.  I believe the varsity might have beaten Camden as its only win.  He was there when AHS went from a 1-9 football season to an 8-3-1 season in the Big Ten Conference.  Bunk eventually became a teacher and the High School Principal.  He had a heart attack very young and passed away.  I may be wrong but I  think it happened in the hall of AHS during one summer.  As an athlete I will always remember him as one of the people who brought the class of '64 through the last two years helping to develop their character and making them into winners. 
Frank Buchanan
Class of '64
BUNK YOUNG was not an assistant, he was "THE" principal.He was funny ,,,but was as strict as they have ever come. He did pass away about 1971 or 72. I knew him very well as he was a neighbor ,also assistant  principal ALLE NANCE lived directly across the street from me. Both were very tough but very fair. As far as I know MR. NANCE is still alive and lives in TEXARKANA.....Iwas 15 or 16 when Bunk passed away.I believe he had a heart attack at the school during the summer. If you need more info please e-mail.   
 ...Mickey Clark class of 74. 
I was in Coach Young's World History class.  There was a boy in the class who didn't have as much as some of us, and hardly ever wore socks even in the winter time.  One day Coach Young opened one of his desk drawers and pulled out a couple of pair and quietly handed them to this fellow, and said he found them in his desk.  He didn't want to embarrass the boy, but wanted to help him.  That has often come to me and I think set an example for the rest of us about caring for others.
 Thanks.
Linda Moon Dawsey (Class of 64)

I know exactly when Bunk died. It was the summer of 1973. I was coaching at Arkansas High and that summer I kept the gym open for the the Model Cities Program. He died in the hall between his office and his secretary's office. I taught biology at the high school in the 72-73 school year. I coached under Jerry Ferguson that year. Jerry was fired that spring and Swede Lee was hired. Swede wanted to send me to College Hill to coach because he did not have any openings at the high school. Bunk refused to let me go, because he wanted me to stay at the high school and teach biology. I taught biology at A.H.S. and coached at College Hill. Bunk was a great guy to work for.
Mike Cherry

My memory of Bunk Young actually reflects "my stupidity and rebellion." My senior year was 1971 and I was determined to keep growing my hair long, trying to keep it tucked behind ears and avoid Bunk. He caught me twice in late winter and early spring and made me get it cut. I kept growing it however and kept pushing it behind my ears and going the other way every time I saw him.
 
He caught me several days before school was out. He told me to get it cut and I argued with him believing that a few days before school was out, there was nothing he could do; was I wrong! He gave me one day to get it cut. The next day, he caught me and saw that I did not get it cut. He told me that if I did not get it cut, I could not attend Graduation and receive my diploma. Being in my absolutely ridiculous rebellious stage, I said that was fine with me for I couldn't care less. I didn't get it cut and didn't go to graduation!
 
Needless to say my parents were very unhappy with whatever flimsy excuse I made up until the truth came out; then they were furious with me! I went later that summer to pick up my diploma. For several years I proclaimed how I had stood up to Bunk Young and won; again was I ever wrong. That was one of the dumbest things I have ever done, and in "more mature hindsight, Bunk was correct and I was the big loser!"
 
Glenn S. Davis
Class of 1971
My dad was a Teacher Coach at AHS when I was in school at Fairview. Each day I would walk to AHS after school with a couple of my classmates.  We would sometimes stop at Cox's store on the way for snacks. Bunk would be outside the school standing at the steps of the office, usually with Coach Nance. They would let us get a drink of water if we were not to loud. The trophy case is where would often gather to talk. We talked about football and fishing until the bell sounded for school to end. The kids would get on the bus and I would wait for my dad or brother to take me home. I was 10 when he died and remember that the school was in shock. Mr. Young was a no nonsense type guy. I believe Mr. Drake took over shortly after that. Coach Nance continued to greet us and talk about hunting, fishing, football and girls.
Frank Pearson

AHS Principal Doyle (Bunk) Young passed away during the summer school session of 1971, not too long after our class graduated. I know from talking to other teachers that Mr. Young grew up poor and worked hard to earn his way in life, not unlike my own father. He never had much use for "long haired dope-smokin' hippy boys" like me, but was a good man just the same. He was a little rough around the edges but was honest and you never had to wonder where he fell on any issue. He was tough on anything that he felt was breaking the rules, but would usually help you out if he thought you would meet him half way. Looking back, he cut me slack several times when he could have been tougher. There was a good heart inside that tough exterior that even a bone-headed 16 year old could see.
Bill Benefiel - 1971

Bunk Young had to have died after the class of 1972 graduated. He and Allen Nance had been assistant principals for a while, and then my senior year, 1971-72, he was made principal. During that year AHS underwent an accreditation review by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Bunk was living all through my senior year and signed my diploma.
Frank W. Hughes (72)

 

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