Selwyn `Bud' Young, Former Redmond Mayor

Former Redmond Mayor Selwyn "Bud" Young helped shape one of the Eastside's fastest-growing cities.

"Bud was good for Redmond in the 1970s," said Redmond Parks Department director John Couch, whom Mr. Young hired. "We were changing Redmond for the future. It was a community that was just blowing up, but he was conservative, rock-solid, moving along in a logical manner. The core of Redmond parks was developed during Bud's reign."

Mr. Young died Monday (March 29) of complications following surgery. He was 78.

"He was very straightforward," said Redmond Mayor Rosemarie Ives. "Although we didn't always agree, when I ran for mayor the first time, he endorsed me. I cherish that endorsement. . . . He made his special mark on the city. He'll be remembered for that."

Mr. Young was part of Redmond's "old guard" that saw the one-time logging town through the mid-century boom. Elected in 1957 to the City Council, he served 12 years before being elected mayor. He served as Redmond mayor for 12 years.

"He was one of the best men you'd ever find," said his wife, Lorraine Young of Redmond. "He was there for everyone, always giving."

Born in Vernal, Utah, he grew up in Salt Lake City. He joined the Navy in World War II, became a pilot and flew missions off the aircraft carrier USS Mission Bay in the Pacific. He retired as a lieutenant commander.

He opened an electrical and appliance store in Redmond in 1946. He knew mechanics, electricity and construction, his wife said.

As mayor, he tried to walk a line between pleasing Redmond old-timers and newcomers, his friends say. He was all for growth but also saw the importance of public space. He promoted the bond issue that paid for Redmond City Hall, authorized public money for parks, zoned for more business and supported the city's hiring of its first full-time fire chief.

His administration was not without controversy. In 1975, he was the subject of a recall vote after a group of police officers objected to his role in firing another officer for illegally taping conversations in the Redmond police locker room.

The fired officer later won $30,000 in damages from the city. But lengthy and divisive hearings into the matter had turned up other police problems that threw into question the competency of the head of the department as well as the mayor.

He survived the recall by a 2-to-1 ratio.

In 1976, Mr. Young opposed adding a transit lane to the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge because it would delay completion of Highway 520 between Bellevue's Overlake area and downtown Redmond.

In 1979, he lost his fourth-term re-election bid to Chris Himes, who opposed developing Redmond Town Center on the old Redmond golf course.

But Mr. Young stepped down gracefully, and concentrated on tending to his investment properties. A favorite pastime was chewing over Redmond issues with members of his "Cronies Club" at Bud's Cafe.

Also surviving are a daughter, Debbie Young of Redmond; sisters, Kalma Kendrick, Twin Falls, Idaho; and D'on Bird, Pocatello, Idaho; and a brother, Gordon Young, Buhl, Idaho.

Services are at 1 p.m. tomorrow at Green Funeral Home, 16551 N.E. 79th St., Redmond.