Don “Jug” Youell

Donald R. “Jug” Youell, Jr. played basketball at Emory & Henry from 1953-55 after two years at junior college. He was the rebound leader and second highest scorer on the 1953-54 team that broke Roanoke College’s 26-game winning-streak and won the Smoky Mountain Conference title. Youell was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 in recognition of his athletic achievements.

In the two seasons that Youell played for the Wasps, the team were conference champions and conference runners-up. Over the course of his career, he averaged 15.2 points per game and had a 69.7% free throw average. His single-game scoring record was 38 points.

After college, Youell turned down an offer to play for House of David, a travel team similar to the Harlem Globetrotters. He did, however, play some semi-professional basketball and continued to play in industrial leagues until his late 40s. He became CEO and owner of American Corrugation Products and was named Entrepreneur of the Year in 1988-89.  Youell currently serves on the Board of Trustees at Emory & Henry College.