Danny Young remembered by friends, loved ones at service

Merriment, music, mix with tears as South Austin icon laid to rest

By Michael Corcoran
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Near the end of Tuesday's memorial service for Danny Roy Young, the former Texicalli Grille owner who died of a heart attack last week, the Rev. John McMullen looked around the packed-to-the-rafters First United Methodist Church, saw people of all ages and all social classes and declared it "the most eclectic gathering of people who have ever been here."

That was a true testament to what Young, the great catalyst and love ambassador, has meant to Austin since 1975, and his hometown of Kingsville before that. That Young's "Mayor of South Austin" media tag touched on such a small aspect of his gigantic persona became apparent when it was not noted once during a 90-minute service that mixed tears, especially when Young's beloved granddaughters spoke, with thundering laughter and music both spiritual ("I'll Fly Away") and secular ("Waltz Across Texas").

"Things revolved around Danny without him being the center of attention," said Robert Coe, the Youngs' neighbor on Bluebonnet Lane in South Austin for 30 years.

"Everyone in this room is a member of Danny Young's family," said another speaker, Scott Conrad of Kingsville.

And Carlos Garza sang "Danny Boy" in a beautiful tenor that oiled the tear ducts.

Young made his living by selling sandwiches, and he had his fun playing rub board with Cornell Hurd, Ponty Bone, the Texana Dames and others. But he made his mark with the force of his unconditional positivity.

"I always thought I was Danny's best friend because that's how he made me feel," McMullen said. "This room is filled to the brim with people who thought they were Danny's best friend. And we are all right."

McMullen choked up and couldn't continue for a few seconds.

"I almost made it," he said, looking over to the Rev. Norman Roe, Young's friend for almost 50 years.

"We had a bet," McMullen said to the crowd, which erupted with laughter.

After the services, the musician-heavy crowd headed to a reception at Antone's nightclub downtown for more memories, music, hugging and tears. Among the food were Texicalli Grille's famous waffle fries with queso.

"We'll never fill Danny's shoes," one speaker said. "But we can walk around in them for a while."

mcorcoran@stateman.com; 445-3652