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CONTACT: Jason Marton
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J.E. Turner memorial display receives public unveiling July 19

KINGSVILLE (July 14, 2005) — The personal keepsakes and mementos of loyal university supporter and alumnus J.E. Turner will be presented to the public July 19 at 10:30 a.m. in a new memorial display to be housed in his namesake Turner Hall, a residence for male students. Turner passed away in 2001.

Presenting the items to the university is his wife, Evelyn Turner, who will be present at the event along with family and friends. A&M-Kingsville president Dr. Rumaldo Z. Juarez also will speak at the event.

J.E. Turner served as a student contract worker at then-Texas A&I University. He went on to earn a B.S. degree from the school and a master’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He served as a public school teacher for nine years before returning to A&M-Kingsville to lead the alumni association. He would serve as dean of men from 1952-1973, then as the foreign student advisor for a year until his retirement in 1974.

Evelyn was one of the first employees of Mercantile Bank when it was established in Kingsville. The bank would become Wells Fargo, where she rose to the position of Vice President before her retirement. The bank awarded her its Certificate of Appreciation for her service.

J.E. and Evelyn were dedicated supporters of university programs, including athletics, the alumni association and the students in general. Upon the passing of J.E. in 2001, the J.E. and Evelyn Turner Scholarship Endowment began, providing scholarships to students. Evelyn Turner increased the original amount of the endowment in 2004, allowing for up to $5,000 a year for scholarships in perpetuity.

 

This page last updated 15 July, 2005