LUMBERTON — Two men who for years worked closely with Douglas Yates “Doug” Yongue remember a man who was a “gentleman” and a “statesman.”
Yongue, an educator and state lawmaker, died Thursday at the age of 82.
The Laurinburg resident was in Robeson County during the transition from five school systems to a single countywide school district in 1989, said J.C. Humphrey Jr., 83, of Lumberton.
“We worked together very closely for 20 years, and he was always a perfect gentleman,” Humphrey said.
After the merger was completed, Yongue, became the county assistant superintendent of maintenance, Humphrey said.
“Prior to that he was superintendent of Maxton City Schools and Maxton City Schools merged with Robeson County schools,” Humphrey said.
It was in the 1970s that Yongue came to Maxton from Scotland County, where he was a school principal. But, it took an act of the state General Assembly to make that move happen.
At the time, superintendents had to live in the school district in which they served, Humphrey said.
“So they just passed legislation so he could serve in Maxton,” Humphrey said.
Yongue retired from Robeson County schools in either 1993 or 1994, according to Humphrey.
Humphrey isn’t sure which year he retired. He is sure about one thing.
“The whole time he worked for us he drove every day back and forth to Laurinburg,” Humphrey said.
In 1994, Yongue, a Democrat, was appointed to the N.C. House as the representative of District 46, serving constituents in Hoke, Robeson and Scotland counties. He held the seat until 2011, when he was defeated by G.L. Pridgen, former director of the Robeson County Board of Elections.
Charles Graham, the representative for District 47, did not serve in the House with Yongue because their time in the General Assembly did not overlap.
“I came in, he was going out,” Graham said.
But, Graham, a former educator, worked under Yongue in Robeson County.
“Mr. Yongue I’ve known for many years as a superintendent and assistant superintendent,” Graham said.
Yongue knew the county’s education needs, Graham said. He was an advocate for the students and for improving the school system’s infrastructure.
Yongue took that knowledge to the N.C. House, where he continued to work for educational improvements and for teachers and students, Graham said.
“I have nothing but high praise for Mr. Yongue,” Graham said. ‘He was a statesman and a strong advocate for public education.”
Yongue was born March 20, 1937, to Robert Eugene Yongue Jr. and Elizabeth Gibson Yongue. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Mildred Hurley Yongue; a son, Douglas Yongue Jr. and wife Stacey, all of Laurinburg; his daughter, Beth Yongue and husband Jim Knight; honorary daughter, Katie Stanley and husband Duane Hall, all of Raleigh; and his Doberman Pinscher, Doby.
A memorial service will be conducted at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Saint Luke United Methodist Church, located at 1501 Turnpike Road in Laurinburg. The family will receive friends 2-3 p.m. Sunday at the church.
His complete obituary can be found inside today’s The Robesonian.
