VALDOSTA —
Veterinarian. Public servant. State senator. Banker. Philanthropist. What reads like a table full of people are really some of the facets of one man. Loyce Turner. A man who has brought a lot to the table for South Georgia in the past few decades.
As noted in a story in Sunday’s editions of The Times, Turner recently ended his long-standing appointment as a member of the state Board of Natural Resources. It brings to an end a public career that has impacted and shaped state politics and benefited South Georgia for nearly 40 years.
In 1974, he was elected state senator and represented Lowndes County and surrounding counties for the next 24 years. His appointment to the Natural Resources board followed and he has served as a board member under three Georgia governors.
Turner led the board as chairman in 2005. As chairman, “Loyce guided the Board to adopt resolutions to approve the purchase of key conservation lands in the River Creek, Altamaha River/Clayhole Swamp, Dawson Forest and Crockford-Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Areas and Dukes Ponds Natural Areas.”
At home, Turner may best be remembered as one of the legislators who forged what is still known as the South Georgia legislative delegation that has the area’s state representatives and senator working together; or as a founder of First State Bank & Trust; or as the man who donated the seed money and arranged the deal in honor of his late wife that turned the bank’s one-time downtown headquarters into the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts; or as the veterinarian who checked on a farmer’s livestock from before dawn to after dusk.
Loyce Turner may no longer be a public servant, but he will without a doubt remain a friend to South Georgia and its people.
What We Think
A salute to Loyce Turner
- What We Think
-
-
Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Dr. John Gaston, retiring dean of Valdosta State University’s College of the Arts. For the past 10-plus years, Gaston has worked to build a more interconnected program with various artistic and communications departments working together. Given that you are likely to see one College of the Arts department collaborating with another during events is proof of Gaston’s success.
-
On the go this weekend
Take a breath.
-
Sharing the roads with motorcycles
With the recent pleasant temperatures and sunny skies, the number of motorcycles on area roads has increased.
-
Thank your local law enforcement today
Today, May 15, was designated Peace Officers Memorial Day back in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy was in office.
-
Visit musical roots this weekend
Beginning Saturday, May 18, Nashville, Ga., will be hosting a special Smithsonian exhibit, “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music.” The exhibit will continue through the end of June and Nashville has done a tremendous job in promoting and planning for the exhibit.
-
Happy Mother’s Day!
A few years ago, a television commercial asked, Who first believed in you? Many folks may have instinctively answered by simply saying, Mom.
-
Thumbs up
THUMBS UP: To mail workers, volunteers and food bank staff for gathering food for the annual Stamp Out Hunger postal food drive today. A plastic bag designated for canned goods and other non-perishable food items should have arrived in your mailbox earlier this week. If you haven’t already, take a few moments to fill the bag with food and hang from your mailbox. If you didn’t receive the special Stamp Out Hunger bag, any plastic bag filled with food will do. This food drive helps feed thousands of South Georgians annually. Valdosta-Lowndes County often donates more food than nearly all other cities and counties in Georgia.
-
Celebrating nurses
She is considered the founder of modern nursing so it seems only natural that National Nurses Week would include Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
-
Helping the hungry: Mail it in!
Valdosta-Lowndes County continues revealing its generous spirit.
-
New school scoring system
The first year of any new program is always a tough one.
- More What We Think Headlines
-
Thumbs up, thumbs down
