Richard E. Young Sr., a retired security guard who played semipro football in the old Negro leagues, died of a heart attack Nov. 14 at his West Baltimore home. He was 83.

Mr. Young was born and raised in West Baltimore and graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in 1938.

During the late 1930s, Mr. Young played defensive end for the Lucky Strikes semipro team in Baltimore.

He enlisted in the Army during World War II and served with the 2nd Cavalry Division in Okinawa, Guam and in the occupation of Japan. He was recalled to duty during the Korean War.

Mr. Young was a sheet metal worker at the Sparrows Point plant of Bethlehem Steel Corp. from the early 1950s until 1962, then was a security guard for the city Department of Social Services until retiring in 1982.

He enjoyed collecting books and reading about the Middle Ages, African-American and Near Eastern history.

Mr. Young was a member of the Knights of St. John and was a communicant of St. Peter Claver Roman Catholic Church, 1542 N. Freemont Ave., where a Mass of Christian burial will be offered at 9 a.m. today.

Mr. Young's wife of 46 years, the former Maggie Bell McQueen, died in 1986. He is survived by a son, Richard E. Young Jr. of Baltimore; two daughters, Jenice C. Young of Baltimore and Michelle R. White of Catonsville; a sister, Virginia V. Young of Baltimore; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandson. Another daughter, Joyce Ann Young, died in 1963.