Young became the first African-American Texas Ranger in 1988.[/caption] A bit of Texas history is located on the west side of McKinney, donning a cowboy hat and working for companies, lawyers and individuals looking for information only a professional private investigator can find. But that is not what makes Lee Young a vital part of Texas history—his role as the first African-American Texas Ranger does. Young grew up in South Texas. During his youth he said he attended a segregated school until about ninth grade. After high school Young joined the Navy and served four years as an electrician. When he left the Navy, Young attended college, and just before his senior year, he said he felt a calling he could not ignore and  joined the Department of Public Safety. In 1988, Young became a Texas Ranger and made history as the first African-American in the oldest law enforcement organization in North America, according to the Texas Ranger’s website. After a successful career with the Texas Rangers that included serving Gov. George W. Bush, Young retired. However, he said, there were some aspects of the job he just could not shake—including the desire to solve a problem. This desire brought him to his next business venture, Lee Young and Associates, a private investigation firm in McKinney. “I retired and was faced one day with what I was going to do for the rest of my life, and through the urging of a few friends of mine I decided to start my own investigating agency,” Young said. “This will be my 10th year.” While most think private investigators follow cheating spouses and wear silly disguises, Young said the work of a private investigator is so much more than that. “The work of a PI always varies,” he said. “People think we sneak around and try to get information on people and follow the cheating spouses around, and some do, but I don’t normally work those. I specialize in things like criminal and civil investigations, but I also conduct background checks, among other things.” Lee Young has more than 30 years’ experience in law enforcement, which he uses in his role as a private investigator.[/caption] Young said anyone could hire a private investigator, and  his prices vary depending on the case. He said some cases could take several hours, and some could take several months or even years. Young said there are a few tricks up his sleeve that he learned in his 30 years in law enforcement—especially regarding questioning subjects to garner the information needed. During those conversations, Young said it is all about the approach, adding that the best PIs know they have to make the subject feel comfortable. Young said he also uses a technique called forensic hypnosis to help individuals unlock forgotten information. “I have successfully used this technique to solve a hit-and-run case,” Young said. “Some individuals cannot be hypnotized, no matter who the hypnotist is or how skilled. Hypnosis does not work on every individual and the participant must be willing to be hypnotized. Even the most skilled cannot hypnotize someone who is not willing.”