SUMNTER, S.C. (AP) - A longtime Sumter pediatrician, who led South Carolina’s first countywide polio immunization drive, and a local humanitarian is leaving the Sumter area after more than 40 years of serving the community.
Dr. William F. “Ted” Young, who started his career with Sumter Pediatrics in 1959 with the late Dr. Charles Robert “Pap” Propst, was described as a man whose life exemplifies the ideals of professional excellence, dedication and service to the children of South Carolina.
Roger Ackerman, a longtime friend, described Young as a community-minded man.
“He’s treated several generations in the Sumter area,” Ackerman said. “He’s been very involved in every aspect of the community and has always been a tremendous advocate for children.”
Bob Smith, who has known Young for about 25 years, described him as someone who truly cares about everyone.
“He’s always been a true gentleman and also a very humble man,” Smith said.
Dr. John E. Rowe, who recently retired from Sumter Pediatrics, served with Young for about 40 years and described him as a great friend and colleague.
“Dr. Young was an excellent pediatrician who was great to work with,” Rowe said. “He knew how to listen to people and had a big following in the pediatrics world. He is very well respected by others in the field and will be missed in Sumter.”
Dr. James M. DuRant Jr., a pediatrician at Sumter Pediatrics, worked with Young for more than 20 years. DuRant said Young was one of the most caring and dedicated pediatricians he’s worked with.
“He would always take the time to ask about how someone was doing, and their family also,” DuRant said. “He is also a wonderful family man. I’m truly honored to have practiced and learned from him.”
Young was born and raised in Florence and graduated from Florence High School in 1946. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received a medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School.
It was in Philadelphia where he met Propst, who was finishing up his training there, according to a past article in The Sumter Item. After an internship at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, Young served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force. He then pursued his pediatric residency training at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
He moved to Sumter in 1959 and joined Propst at Sumter Pediatrics. The medical office was started in 1954 by Propst and was originally known as The Children’s Clinic.
In 1961, Young led South Carolina’s first countywide polio immunization drive. That same year, he became editor of the Directory of Handicapped Children’s Services. In 1970, he was appointed chairman of the S.C. White House Conference for Children and Youth for Health. Young was also instrumental in bringing the Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment program to South Carolina.
In 1999, Young was the recipient of the William Weston Distinguished Service Award for Excellence in Pediatrics. The award is one of South Carolina’s highest honors for pediatricians.
Upon Young receiving the award, Dr. C. Warren Derrick Jr., at that time chairman of the University of South Carolina’s medical school’s department of pediatrics, described Young as one of the best pediatricians in the state, in a past Sumter Item article.
“Ted Young has been one of the most dedicated and effective child advocates that we’ve ever had in South Carolina,” Derrick said. “His distinguished career is certainly one for all of us to emulate, and I can think of no one more deserving of this honor.”
In Sumter, Young was involved in numerous civic and professional organizations including the Sumter-Clarendon County Medical Society, Sumter Rotary Club, Sumter Family YMCA, Sumter Chamber of Commerce and Wilson Hall school board.
Young served as the president of the “Y’’ in 1962, and in 2005, received the organization’s Humanitarian of the Year award. He also was Sumter Rotary Club’s Rotarian of the Year in 2002.
He was also a former board member of the Sumter County Health Department and chief of staff of the former Tuomey Regional Medical Center. Young also served as a clinical pediatrics professor at USC’s medical school.
He is an active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Sumter.
He is married to the former Charlene Williams. Together they have three children, Dr. Lynn Young Anthony, Dr. Sarah Young Gessner and Charles “Rick” Young.
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Information from: The Sumter Item, https://www.theitem.com
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