YOUNG, MERRILL A. (15 Aug. 1905-5 Jan. 1993) labor relations expert, was born in Lulu, Michigan, the son of Charles and Sophia Solwich Young. After graduation from Windham, Ohio high school, he came to Cleveland in the 1920s and began working as a shipping clerk at Cleveland Graphite Bronze, eventually mastering all aspects of bearing manufacture. To develop his managerial skills, Young attended classes at CASE SCHOOL OF APPLIED SCIENCE and JOHN CARROLL UNIVERSITY. During WORLD WAR II, he was manager of CGB's Cleveland plant, which manufactured automotive and aircraft bearings, when a strike by the Mechanics Education Society of America erupted over employee discipline in 1944, and the plant was put under control of the army to maintain production (see the CLEVELAND GRAPHITE BRONZE SEIZURE). By 1947 Young was the company's director of personnel and later was promoted to Vice President in charge of training and labor negotiations for 4,500 employees in the midwest and Canada. He developed a program of economic education for employees and also sought to increase understanding between industry and the public, teaching adult education courses on worker supervision and vocational guidance. After Young left GCB during the 1950s, he was works manager at Marquette Metal Products Division of the Curtiss Wright Corporation for 9 years.
Young married Henrietta Harris, and they had a daughter, Wanda (Will) After his wife's death in 1964, he married Hilda R. Warnment 29 May 1965. He died at his home in GATES MILLS and was buried at Gates Mill South Cemetery.