Morley Alphonso Ryerson Young, MD

Born in Rossburn, Manitoba, in 1894, and grew up working on his father's farm. Attended a one-room school house in Rossburn until gr. 9; attended high school in Russell, Manitoba, where he and his sisters boarded in town; completed Normal School (teacher training) and taught in a one-room school in Fletts Springs, Saskatchewan. Completed three years of medical school at the University of Alberta, Edmonton. In 1917, he and other medical students joined the Canadian Army (Tank Corp) and went overseas, but WWI ended so never saw action. While waiting to return to Canada, studied medicine at the University of Glasgow for 6 months. Completed his medical degree at McGill University, Montreal. Worked at the psychiatric hospital in Selkirk, Manitoba, for under a year and then went to Lamont Hospital in Alberta in 1922. Married Ethel Beatrice Rolland, a nursing supervisor in Montreal, on June 6, 1923. His uncle, Watson Ross, was a missionary for the Methodist Church working at the hospital and encouraged him to come. Worked as a physician, surgeon, and administrator. Although he chose not to practise medicine in a large centre, remaining in Lamont, Alberta, until he died, he nevertheless became President of the Alberta Medical Association in 1957, President of the Canadian Medical Association in 1958, and the Canadian representative to the World Medical Association in 1959. In the mid-1930s, Dr. Young, along with other physicians at Lamont Hospital, devised a method for people with no money to pay, the system a forerunner of Canadian healthcare. Was an active teacher of nurses in the Lamont School of Nursing. In his later years, was interested in care for the elderly and was instrumental in the design of housing for senior citizens that was built adjoining the Lamont Hospital. Received an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary, among many other honours.

He loved nothing more than a gathering of his family, unless it was a drive along Alberta country roads in his Buick with a grandchild or two along with him.