R.I.P.: Former Napa Valley Station Owner Tom Young

Tom Young

Tom Young, who once owned the Napa Valley’s two radio stations, KVON 1440 AM and KVYN 99.3 FM The Vine, in California died in his sleep Monday night after being surrounded by family all afternoon. He was 94 years old.

Members of the community describe Young as an enthusiastic businessman who threw himself into community life and was often chosen for emcee duties because of his friendly wit.

Young came to Napa in the early 1970s from the Midwest and purchased radio station KVON with his wife, Ita, who died in March 2006. The station became known as “The Voice of the Valley.” He sold his radio holdings in 1996.

“Tom Young made his mark on Napa,” said retired Superior Court Judge Philip Champlin, Young’s friend, neighbor and fellow Rotary member.

Champlin said that Young made KVON into a true community-based radio station that informed the public of what was going on in the area.

When he began running the station, Young “immediately became involved in the local community and over the years was personally involved in virtually every charitable and nonprofit organization in town,” according to Jim Ford, a local history columnist for the Napa Valley Register.