The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) mourns the loss of former AMA President Ed Youngblood, who passed away on March 10, 2024, at the age of 80. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
Born on September 28, 1943, in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Youngblood’s journey with motorcycles began at the age of 14 when he purchased his first bike, a 165cc Harley-Davidson. After completing his college education with a master’s degree, he ventured into the world of motorcycling, working alongside AMA Motorcycle Hall of Famers Chuck and Sharon Clayton as an editor of Cycle News East.
In 1970, Youngblood joined the AMA staff as the managing editor of AMA News, later known as American Motorcyclist. His dedication and expertise led him to be appointed to oversee the AMA’s government relations department in 1978.
In 1981, Youngblood assumed the role of AMA executive director, steering the organization until 1999. Throughout his tenure, he prioritized enhancing member communication, expanding the AMA’s government relations endeavors, and forging stronger connections with the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM). Youngblood served as a delegate to the FIM for 25 years and eventually rose to the position of deputy president, the second-highest rank within the organization.
Youngblood played a pivotal role in establishing the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame. He was instrumental in the creation of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation in the early 1980s, which aimed to raise funds for the Hall of Fame Museum.
In 1990, the American Motorcycle Heritage Museum opened its doors in the AMA’s former headquarters in Westerville, Ohio, before relocating to Pickerington, Ohio, alongside the AMA’s headquarters.
Following his resignation from the AMA in 1999, Youngblood directed his focus towards his passion for history and writing. In recognition of his contributions, he was inducted into the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame later that same year.
The AMA, founded in 1924, is a nonprofit member-based association dedicated to promoting the motorcycle lifestyle and safeguarding the future of motorcycling. As the world’s largest motorcycling rights and event sanctioning organization, the AMA advocates for riders’ interests at all levels of government and sanctions thousands of competitions and recreational events annually.
In addition to providing members with money-saving discounts on products and services, the AMA publishes American Motorcyclist, a monthly full-color magazine (both in print and digital formats) featuring current events and motorcycle history with captivating photography and writing.
American Motorcyclist is also North America’s largest-circulation magazine. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in Pickerington, Ohio, the AMA honors the heroes and heritage of motorcycling. For more information, visit americanmotorcyclist.com.
