Ed Youngblood, who was one of the most influential insiders at the American Motorcyclist Association for many years, has died.
It would be very difficult to overstate Youngblood’s impact on motorcycling in the US, due to his decades of involvement through rider advocacy organizations. After time at Cycle News, where he began working on riders’ advocacy at the state level, Youngblood started his career at the AMA in 1970. He eventually became president of that organization as well as vice president of the FIM. He was responsible for much of the cooperation between the FIM and the AMA, and as the PR says below, he was also instrumental in the founding of the American Motorcycle Heritage Museum. After leaving the AMA in 1999, Youngblood continued to work and move in the world of motorcycling, writing books on famous racers and other moto history.
The AMA’s official tribute is below, but there’s a much better summary of Youngblood’s life and career over at Rider Files.
Press release
Former AMA President Ed Youngblood Passes Away at 80
Youngblood spearheaded the AMA’s efforts from 1981 to 1999
PICKERINGTON, Ohio — The American Motorcyclist Association is saddened to hear about the passing of former AMA President Ed Youngblood on March 10, 2024, and offers condolences to his family, friends and colleagues. Youngblood was 80 years old.
Born on Sept. 28, 1943, in Muskogee, Okla., Youngblood bought his first bike — a 165cc Harley-Davidson — at the age of 14. After graduating from college with a master’s degree, he went to work with AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers Chuck and Sharon Clayton as an editor of Cycle News East.
In 1970, Youngblood joined the AMA staff as managing editor of AMA News, which later was replaced by American Motorcyclist. In 1978, he was put in charge of the AMA’s government relations department.
In 1981, Youngblood was appointed AMA executive director. He led the organization until 1999. During his tenure, Youngblood focused on improving member communication, growing the AMA’s government relations efforts, and building stronger ties to the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme. For 25 years Youngblood was a delegate to the FIM, and he eventually became the deputy president, which was the second-highest rank in the organization.
Youngblood also helped establish the AMA Motorycle Hall of Fame. He was instrumental in forming the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation in the early 1980s to raise funds for the Hall of Fame Museum. The American Motorcycle Heritage Museum was opened in 1990 within the AMA’s old headquarters in Westerville, Ohio.
During Youngblood’s tenure the AMA’s headquarters was relocated to Pickerington, Ohio — which remains the AMA’s home today. The American Motorcycle Heritage Museum followed the AMA to Pickerington, assuming a new name: The AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum.
Youngblood resigned from the AMA to focus on his interests in history and writing in 1999 and was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame later that year.
The post Ed Youngblood, An Institution At The AMA, Has Died appeared first on Adventure Rider.
Leave a Reply