Virginia S. Young

Who was Virginia S. Young?

Virginia Shuman Young was a Fort Lauderdale politician, serving elected terms to the Broward County School Board, and the Fort Lauderdale City Commission. During her time on the City Commission, she served twice as Mayor and as Vice-Mayor from 1971–1973 and 1975-1981.

Virginia Shuman was born in Norfolk, Virginia, the daughter of a tugboat captain. In 1926, her family moved to Fort Lauderdale. Her uncle, Dewitt G. TenBrook, was the city's chief of Police and had been one of the original residents when the city was incorporated in 1911.

She married George Young, who was the owner of a successful construction business, and in 1953 was elected to the Broward County Board of Education. She led the fight to have the board abolished, and was successful when the board was merged into the Broward County School Board in 1957. She successfully ran for a seat on the School Board the following year, and served as a member until 1966, including two one-year terms as Chairwoman. After losing her re-election bid for the School board in 1965, she ran for State Legislator and Supervisor of the Board of Elections as a candidate for the Democratic Party, and lost both times.