Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame
While most student-athletes balanced one sport with their class schedules, Jim Turner balanced three different sports, becoming an honor student in the midst of his busy schedule. As teammate Smokey Russell said, “Jim not only excelled in football, basketball and track, but was also recognized as a student body leader.”
An outstanding running back at Messick High School, where he earned All-Memphis recognition his senior year and paved the way for his future success at Southwestern. Jim was a three year starter at halfback. After World War II the Lynx struggled to produce winning football teams. Jim was a member of the 1956 team which ended that struggle, becoming the first Southwestern football team after World War II to have a winning record. Not only was he an outstanding running back and strong defender in football, he also excelled in a number of track events that led to him being named Co-Captain of the team his senior year.
In addition to his athletic ability, Jim was campus leader, serving as Vice President of the senior class, Grand Procurator and Grand Master of Ceremonies of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, and he was tapped for Omicron Delta. Kappa. Jim served in the United States Air Force as a captain. While serving in the Air Force he experienced an accident which caused him to lose the sight in one of his eyes. The accident did not stand in the way of his achievements. After graduating from University of Tennessee College of Dentistry, Jim served as a member of the faculty at the University of Tennessee School of Dentistry, where he taught for forty-three years. His many contributions to his profession and the Memphis community earned him the “Humanitarian of the Year” award from the Memphis Dental Society.
Whether it was on the field, track, court or campus, Jim Turner showed great leadership and skills. Rhodes is honored to induct JAMES ERNEST TURNER to the Rhodes Athletic Hall of Fame this 10th day of October, 2014.
