"Sweet Brown Sugar" Skip Young Passes Away
Oklafan was saddened to learn of the death of "Sweet Brown Sugar" Skip Young, who passed away on December 5. He was believed to have been in his 50s.
Young, who's real name was Galton, was a childhood friend of David Von Erich, before either of them became wrestlers. Young started his career in the TSW territory, but would begin to make a name or himself when he moved to Florida and donned a mask, creating the identity of "Sweet Brown Sugar". He teamed with Bobo Brazil and captured the NWA Florida Tag Team Titles from Mr. Hito & Mr. Sakaruda on September 29, 1979. One month later, he defeated Ernie Ladd for the NWA (Florida) Southern Title, the first of 3 Southern Championships he would hold.
Young returned to Texas in 1980, teaming with Kerry Von Erich and winning the Texas Tag Team Titles from Tim Brooks & Stan Stasiak, but it wasn't long before Young was back in Florida racking up the gold. He recaptured the Southern Title and added the NWA Bahamas Title to the resume. And in February 1982, Young ventured to California where he become the NWA (Los Angeles) American Champion. A couple of months later, Young became NWA Florida TV Champion. But it was on April 11, 1982 that things reached their peak for Young as he teamed with Bruce Reed (later Butch Reed) and defeated Dory Funk, Jr. & his former friend David Von Erich for the NWA (Florida) North American Tag Team Titles. Young & Reed would then enter a high-profile feud with the PYT Express, Norvell Austin & Koko B. Ware. And while Young would eventually lose the titles to that duo, he rebounded by claiming the Southern Title one last time at the cost of Derrick Draper.
The next time Young would appear on the championship radar would be 1987. He had removed his mask and returned to being Skip Young and he would return to Texas and team with "The Black Superman" Tony Atlas to win the WCCW Texas Tag Team Titles by defeating Ted Arcidi & Texas Red in a Tournament. They held those titles longer than any other documented team until January 1988 when Young was forced to defend them by himself against John Tatum & Jack Victory as Atlas no-showed the event. Young began to slip into obscurity at that point. He still made appearances, including a stint for Tim Brooks' North American Wrestling Allegiance in 1992. But it seemed like things were slipping away from Young as far as the wrestling business went. He had one final appearance with a title as he won the WWC Television Title from the Mighty Kodiak in Jan, 1996. After losing that title, Young retreated from the wrestling scene.
Young has 10 documented appearances in Oklahoma. He began his stay here on March 10, 1978 by teaming with the Avenger and losing to Bobby Jaggers & Jerry Brown in Tulsa. Much of his time in TSW would be spent feuding with Jaggers & Brown. On April 17, 1978, he defeated Bobby Jaggers in Tulsa and the next week, he teamed with Paul Orndorff and defeated Eric the Red & Bobby Jaggers in Tulsa. May saw Young team with both Orndorff on May 1 in Tulsa and Brian Blair on May 15 in Tulsa. The Orndorff team defeated Jaggers & Brown, but the Blair team wasn't able to accomplish that. On May 22, Brown defeated newcomer Gary Young in Tulsa. He was advertised for a match against Larry Booker in Oklahoma City on May 26, but no result of that match is known. May 29, 1978 saw Young get one of the biggest opportunities of his life as he challenged NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion Nelson Royal in Tulsa for the title. He was unable to capture it, but for someone to get a title shot that early in his career meant he was doing something right. June 5th would see Young's last documented appearance with TSW as he teamed with Jose Lothario and they defeated TSW United States Tag Team Champions Jaggers & Brown in a non-title match. But Lothario & Young never got their title opportunity as Young left the company shortly afterwards. His last documented appearance was on September 12, 1984 as he teamed with NWA American Tag Team Champion "Iceman" King Parsons. Together, they disposed of the PYT Express, at least for the time being.
Young disappeared off the national scene around 1988 but that didn't reduce his work much. As the possessor of one of the greatest drop-kicks in the world, Young continued to try and get work in whatever territory he went to. But by 2010, all that was in the background. Young had fallen into obscurity and would remain there until time for his funeral.
Oklafan extends its condolences to the family & friends of Skip Young.
