William H. Turner (August 1, 1931 – November 1, 2002) was an African-American school board member and state senator from Miami, Florida. He was a pioneer of racial integration, serving as the first black school board member in Dade County, and a supporter of education in the Florida legislature.
Biographyedit
Turner was born in 1931, in the black community of Overtown in Miami. His parents died while he was young, leaving him to be raised by his grandmother. He graduated from Bethune-Cookman College, in Daytona, Florida, in 1956, with a bachelor's degree in education. He returned to Miami, where he worked as a police officer for a year before becoming an elementary school teacher in 1957. He continued to work as an educator for 13 years, both as a teacher and an administrator, during which time he received a Masters of Education degree from the University of Miami. In 1982, he also received a Doctor of Law degree from Faith College in Birmingham, AL.
Turner began his political career in 1970, when he ran for the board of the county-wide school system and won the election over a white opponent. Turner became the first African-American to serve on the Dade County School Board. He served on the board until 1978, when he lost his re-election bid amid allegations of mismanaging funds for a community program he oversaw. Turner was eventually cleared of any criminal wrongdoing regarding those allegations, and he returned to working as a school administrator. In 1982, he ran again for the school board and was elected. He remained on the school board for the next 10 years, during two of which (1989-1991) he served as board chair. While on the board, Turner strongly supported desegregation, multicultural education, and school safety projects. Shortly before he left the board, it named a new vocational high school after him. William H. Turner Technical Arts High School opened in Miami in 1993.
Turner's time on the Dade County School Board ended in 1992, when he decided to vacate his seat in order to run for the Florida Senate. District 36, which included the areas of Allapattah, Liberty City, part of Little Havana, Opa-locka, El Portal, and Miami Shores, was without an incumbent, because the previous senator, Carrie Meek, was running for U.S. Congress. Turner beat State Rep. James Burke by 30 votes in the Democratic primary, winning the seat. Turner spent one 4-year term in the senate, before being defeated by his predecessor's son, Kendrick Meek, in 1998.
Turner died of natural causes on November 1, 2002.
Referencesedit
Cordovi, Adriana (Nov 2, 2002). “W. Turner, 71; State Senator, Educator.” The Miami Herald, p4B.
Grant, Charisse (Jan 9, 1992). “Racism Charged in School Name Flap.” The Miami Herald, p4B.
Grant, Charisse (March 5, 1992). “School Board Veteran Turner to Run for State Senate.” The Miami Herald, p1B.
Rothaus, Steve (Sept 10, 1992). “Rep. Burke’s 10-Year Political Career Ends.” The Miami Herald, p9B.
“William Turner, state senator, integrated Dade school board.” (Nov 13, 2002). Westside Gazette (Ft. Lauderdale, FL), p4.
April 11, 2024
william, turner, politician, this, article, includes, list, references, related, reading, external, links, sources, remain, unclear, because, lacks, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, march, 2019, le. This article includes a list of references related reading or external links but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations March 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message William H Turner August 1 1931 November 1 2002 was an African American school board member and state senator from Miami Florida He was a pioneer of racial integration serving as the first black school board member in Dade County and a supporter of education in the Florida legislature Biography editTurner was born in 1931 in the black community of Overtown in Miami His parents died while he was young leaving him to be raised by his grandmother He graduated from Bethune Cookman College in Daytona Florida in 1956 with a bachelor s degree in education He returned to Miami where he worked as a police officer for a year before becoming an elementary school teacher in 1957 He continued to work as an educator for 13 years both as a teacher and an administrator during which time he received a Masters of Education degree from the University of Miami In 1982 he also received a Doctor of Law degree from Faith College in Birmingham AL Turner began his political career in 1970 when he ran for the board of the county wide school system and won the election over a white opponent Turner became the first African American to serve on the Dade County School Board He served on the board until 1978 when he lost his re election bid amid allegations of mismanaging funds for a community program he oversaw Turner was eventually cleared of any criminal wrongdoing regarding those allegations and he returned to working as a school administrator In 1982 he ran again for the school board and was elected He remained on the school board for the next 10 years during two of which 1989 1991 he served as board chair While on the board Turner strongly supported desegregation multicultural education and school safety projects Shortly before he left the board it named a new vocational high school after him William H Turner Technical Arts High School opened in Miami in 1993 Turner s time on the Dade County School Board ended in 1992 when he decided to vacate his seat in order to run for the Florida Senate District 36 which included the areas of Allapattah Liberty City part of Little Havana Opa locka El Portal and Miami Shores was without an incumbent because the previous senator Carrie Meek was running for U S Congress Turner beat State Rep James Burke by 30 votes in the Democratic primary winning the seat Turner spent one 4 year term in the senate before being defeated by his predecessor s son Kendrick Meek in 1998 Turner died of natural causes on November 1 2002 References editCordovi Adriana Nov 2 2002 W Turner 71 State Senator Educator The Miami Herald p4B Grant Charisse Jan 9 1992 Racism Charged in School Name Flap The Miami Herald p4B Grant Charisse March 5 1992 School Board Veteran Turner to Run for State Senate The Miami Herald p1B Rothaus Steve Sept 10 1992 Rep Burke s 10 Year Political Career Ends The Miami Herald p9B William Turner state senator integrated Dade school board Nov 13 2002 Westside Gazette Ft Lauderdale FL p4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William H Turner politician amp oldid 1125261707, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
