Remembering former GM at the Cockatoo Inn

We recently discovered the passing of Richard A. Young, who was general manager at the Cockatoo Inn during the 1980s.

Rich moved to Phoenix in 1964 from Spokane staying in the hotel business, and landed a job with the Del Webb townhouse as a bellman. He worked for well known companies Hyatt Hotel Corporation and Marquis Hotel in Palm Springs, California. The latter was owned by Harbaugh Hotel Management Company, which is still around today. Here’s the announcement they made after Richard left the Cockatoo in 1984:

“Richard A Young, 47, of Los Angeles, has been appointed vice president and general manager of the Palm Springs Marquis – a Harbaugh Hotel now under construction in downtown Palm Springs. Young most recently has been general manager of the 212-room Cockatoo Inn located in Hawthorne. The Youngs bought a home in Palm Springs and will relocate to the desert in July.”

Source: Desert Sun Newspaper

Richard A. Young retired from the hospitality industry in 1998. He passed away at the age of 76 in 2012.

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