UNT Professor Emeritus James William “Bill” Turner passed away Thursday, November 2nd at his home after a long illness with his wife Sally at his side.
Bill was born December 24, 1933 in Gainesville, Texas to Amy Thomas Porter and Whaley Turner. He is survived by wife Sally Ann Carter Turner; son James William Turner Jr. and wife Cathy of Weatherford; granddaughter Sarah Elizabeth Turner of Fort Worth; daughter, Robin Saxon Turner of Gainesville; brother-in-law Norman Harper of Whitewright; niece Amy Gene Stout and husband Danny of Quinlan.
He is also survived by his very beloved and faithful step-daughter Brooke Bryson Sharmin and her husband Eiman and sons Samuel, Sonny and Spencer of Wellington, Florida. His loss is also grieved by his beloved extended step-family: nephews Grant Wills, wife JoAnna, their children Parker and Rachel of Aubrey; Clint Quattlebaum and his wife Heather and children August and Arden of Houston; sister-in-law Kathy Carter Davis of Sherman and her son John Davis.
Dr. Turner taught year-around in the College of Education at UNT for 42 years. He taught teacher education and administration and his former students number in the thousands. At his retirement it was said that it was likely he had taught more undergraduate and graduate class sections than anyone in the history of UNT. He created and taught the course Nature and Conditions of Learning and served on virtually all undergraduate and graduate College of Education Committees.
He served on an appointed special university committee that researched and won approval for creating the University Press of UNT. He served as UNT College of Education student teacher coordinator in the Dallas Independent School District for three years where he procured approval to utilize specific schools which were used in an experimental project that operated successfully for years becoming known as the “West Dallas Project”.
He collaborated in creating a summer graduate course titled, “Using Newspapers in the Classroom” where he team taught in this institute for four summers. He also served as the Director of the College of Education “Quality Assurance Program” for three years.
In addition to earning status of Professor Emeritus, Dr. Turner was named “Top Prof” by the Mortar Board and was nominated for the Piper Professor Award.
There will be a private viewing for Dr. Turner on Monday, November 6, 2017 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow followed by a private graveside service at Ridgeview West Memorial Park in Frisco.
The family request that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Frisco ISD Education Foundation.