Turner, who succeeded Ronald W. Leftwich ’64 after 33 years of service to the Board of Trustees, including 14 years as the board chair, said he is thankful for the lessons he learned from Leftwich during the transition. Turner previously served the board as treasurer and accepted the nomination for chairman in October when Leftwich announced his retirement.
“As an alumnus and board member, it is my distinct privilege to lead this institution into the future. Through Ron’s vigilance, we have carefully selected the right president for Culver-Stockton College for each season. I am confident that as we look forward to our 175th-anniversary celebration in five years, the college will be able to show continued growth and distinction as a residential college, as well as in substantial online and graduate programs. As a leader in experiential learning innovation, we look forward to continuing the mission of preparing students of promise for a successful future, as noted by our recognition as the best college or university in Missouri to get a job.”
Turner has served on the board since 2004 and regularly volunteers by connecting students with alumni for internships, speaking in classrooms, and, most notably, contributing in ways that provide a lasting impact on the campus footprint. In April 2022, the Johnson-Turner IDEA Center was completed as a joint gift from Turner and fellow board member Scott Johnson ‘71.
Professionally, Turner earned a bachelor of science in business, then found success as an entrepreneur. He completed a 35-year-long career with Heatron, Inc., where he served as the company’s President and CEO and shepherded the company as they became part of the Swedish public company Global Leader NIBE Industrier AB, a worldwide leader in the heating element market. In January 2018, he retired from Heatron, and Turner became the primary owner and Chairman of Peachtree Lighting, a manufacturer of LED lighting fixtures sold to commercial and industrial specification markets throughout the USA and the world.
Turner resides in the Kansas City area with his wife, Tammy. They have three adult daughters and four grandchildren.
The board members elected three new board members and two trustee emeriti. New board members include Dr. C.J. Davis ‘94 of Springfield, Mo.; Mr. C. James Carr ‘71 of Wheaton, Ill., and Reverend Linda Hunsaker ‘93 of Bettendorf, Iowa. Dr. Joe MacDoniels ‘63 of Holland, Mich., was named Trustee Emeritus, as was retiring board chair Ron Leftwich.
Contact the Marketing & Public Relations Office, at pr@culver.edu or 573-288-6000 ext. 6728 for more information.
NOTE: A number that appears immediately after a person’s name (i.e. Jane Doe ’18) is a reference to the year that person earned their bachelor’s degree from Culver-Stockton.