Young, Frank N.

Frank N. Young was a professor of zoology and biology at Indiana University. His research and teaching interests included ecology, entomology, and parasitology, but much of his work focused specifically on water beetles.

Frank Young was born in Oneonta, Alabama on November 2, 1915, but was raised in Florida following his family's move there in 1920. He attended the University of Florida, earning a Bachelor's degree with honors in 1938 and continued on into graduate work, receiving his Master's in 1940 and Ph.D. in 1942. After completing his graduate studies Young served in the Army, initially as an enlisted man but soon becoming an officer. Classified as an entomologist and parasitologist, he served with both Malaria and Sanitation Survey units. Although discharged from active duty in 1946, he remained active in the Army Reserves, retiring in 1974 with the rank of Colonel.

After his discharge from the Army, Young returned to the University of Florida as an Assistant Professor of Biology. He remained there until 1949, when he joined the Indiana University faculty as Assistant Professor of Zoology. An aggressive researcher, Young authored numerous articles during his tenure at IU. Although he studied a variety of insects ranging from tree snails to mosquitoes, his primary interest was in water beetles, the subject of his 1954 monograph, The Water Beetles of Florida.

Young was also a very active instructor. In addition to teaching the department's course on Introductory Biology, Young developed and taught upper-level courses in entomology, ecology, and parasitology. His teaching activities extended beyond the classroom, including a course on field ecology in which he took a small group of students on field trips across several states, lectures to local groups, and identifying damaging or harmful insects. He was the principal advisor for 10 Ph.D. students and served as a committee member for numerous others.

Young retired from Indiana University in December of 1985 and passed away on June 12, 1998.