Paul H. Young Jr.

Paul H. Young, Jr., 85, of Laredo, Texas, entered into eternal peace on January 28, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas.

As a youngster, Paul spent a lot of time with his parents on road trips, where his father, Paul Sr., taught him the art of fly fishing and outdoor life. Like his father, Paul was also an avid golfer. Starting in his teen years, Paul often traveled to Mexico with his parents to play in golf tournaments with his father, before Paul Sr.’s death in 1965.

Paul graduated from Martin High School in 1959. As noted in his senior yearbook, he was an R.O.T.C. officer, as well as a member of the Rifle and Golf teams where he won first in 16AAAA golf. It was then that he met and later married his high school sweetheart, Ellen, and they had 4 children together.

In 1961, Paul started working for his father at his downtown Laredo car dealership, Gateway Chevrolet. Upon his father’s death in 1965, Paul traveled to Michigan to the General Motors Headquarters to convince them that he should become their next Chevrolet dealer for Gateway Chevrolet. At the age of 25, Paul was approved and at that time, became the youngest Chevrolet car dealer to ever be appointed.

Paul was well known in business and in the community for what some people called his “crazy” advertising campaigns. You might remember “The Giant” on the roof of the downtown dealership, or the “Paul’s Easy” bumper stickers with lips on cars around town. You could get a “Cracker Jack of a Deal” on a car and a box of Cracker Jacks, too. Gateway Chevrolet’s name later changed to Paul Young Chevrolet, and with that, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Daddy’s Gonna Buy Me a Paul Young Car” came to life. After moving to the Saunders/Hwy 59 location, Paul began frying eggs on cars and slapping $100 bills on his mouth. Paul’s love and passion for the car business and being a successful car dealer was a goal he strived for every day. In his Martin High School senior yearbook “La Pitahaya”, his ambition was “Hopes to be the best Chevrolet dealer in the world”.

Paul was a Laredo car dealer for over 50 years. Starting with the Chevrolet franchise, his business grew to 7 franchises. At the time of selling his business in 2021, he held the Chevrolet and Nissan franchises.

Besides numerous recognitions from General Motors, and his other franchises, Paul was honored with other awards and honors as well. Some of those were being honored as a Martin High School “Tiger Legend”, portraying George Washington during the George Washington’s Birthday Celebration in 2002, being inducted (along with his father, Paul Sr.) into the Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame in 2006, receiving Lulac Council #12’s Tejano Achievement Award in 2006, Laredo Business Hall of Fame’s Junior Achievement Award in 2007, recipient of the 2016 Gateway Rotary Club’s Paul Harris Fellowship Award, recipient of The Laredo Economic Development Corporation’s EDI Automotive Industry Award in 2019, and most recently, Paul and his family were recognized with The Habitat for Humanity’s 30th Anniversary Helping Hands Award in 2025.

Over the years, Paul had many hobbies (besides work) that he loved. In addition to golf, he enjoyed fishing, shooting skeet, hunting, and playing tennis. Paul also loved drag racing his 1956 Chevy Gasser he named “Spitfire”. He was always driven to be the best at whatever he did.

In the 1970’s (busy decade for Paul), after picking up the sport of tennis, he built a tennis court at home and started hosting tennis tournaments with friends which became very popular events. A couple of years later, he built the El Nopal Tennis Club which housed a Pro Shop and had 7 tennis courts, where many more tournaments were held.

Paul began coaching his daughter, Kelly, and taking her and her tennis teammates to compete in tournaments around Texas. When Kelly’s son, Connor, started playing tennis in high school, Paul helped guide him.

Always willing to share his knowledge, when two of Paul’s grandsons, Danny and Paul, IV showed an interest in golf, he began coaching them as well.

During his down time, Paul enjoyed watching sports on TV, like golf, tennis, football and baseball, including the Little League World Series. He also loved watching foreign films. When not watching TV, Paul enjoyed taking month long road trips in the U.S. and Canada with his wife, Ellen. On occasion, his son, Paul III, or daughter, Shawn would join them. Numerous times, his grandson, Danny would join them as well.

Paul is preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Ellen B. Young, and daughter, Stacy A. Young; parents, Paul H. Young, Sr. and Estela C. Martinez-Young; sisters, Patricia “Patty” Y. Zuniga and Pamela “Pammy” Y. Shockley.

Paul is survived by his children, Shawn D. Young, Kelly Y. Morgensen (Greg) and Paul H. Young, III (Griselda); grandchildren, Daniel R. “Danny” Villarreal, Jr. (Alejandra), Ryan C. Morgensen (Grisel), Chelsea N. Dominguez (Charlie), Kaylie A. Powell (Kyle), Connor P. Morgensen (Ilse), Paul H. Young, IV (Karla), James T. Young and Hunter D. Young; great-grandchildren, Ellanie N. Villarreal, Nicholas R. Villarreal, Alaina K. Morgensen, Zachary R. Morgensen, Avery J. Powell, Luke D. Morgensen, Stacy E. Morgensen and Riley R. Morgensen.

Also left to cherish his memory are his sisters-in-law, Edith V. Mills and Elizabeth M. “Liz” Hinkle; brothers-in-law, Arthur “Bill” Bailey and Richard “Howell” Bailey (Bobbie); Godson, Luis “Louie” Ramirez, Jr. (Noemi), as well as his many, and much-loved nieces and nephews.

Paul always had an unwavering positive attitude, and took great joy in passing on his wisdom, insight, knowledge, and at times his humor, whether it was regarding business, golf, fishing, life in general, or anything he could offer advice on, to anyone who had the privilege of knowing him, including his family. In recent years, as his grandchildren grew up, Paul was especially proud of their accomplishments and success.

Paul loved people, and he appreciated everyone who touched his life. It is his family’s hope that anyone who met Paul, felt his appreciation, and that even in the smallest way, he had a positive impact on their lives.

Paul’s family want to express their gratitude to all their family and friends for their prayers, phone calls, love and support. They also wish to thank Paul’s longtime executive assistant, Graciela “Gracie” Vela, and his longtime household helper and groundskeeper, Alvaro Alejo, for their unfailing dedication.

To honor Paul’s wishes, public services will not be held. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, if you would like to honor Paul’s memory, his children ask that you consider a donation to one of the following charities he supported.

Casa de Misericordia –

Donations by mail: Casa de Misericordia, P. O. Box 6184, Laredo, TX 78042 or

Donations Via Website: https://casademisericordia.org/donate/

Or

Habitat for Humanity of Laredo – www.HabitatLaredo.org/donate

Or

Any local, or national Breast Cancer, or Alzheimer’s organizations of your choice.

St. Francis de Assisi Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

You may express your condolences, share your favorite memories, and sign the guestbook online at: www.joejacksonfuneralchapels.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care and direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels & Cremation Services, 1410 Jacaman Rd., Laredo, Texas 78041; (956)722-8850.