Jerry Turner (anchorman)

Jerry Turner
Born	Jerry Joiner August 6, 1929 Meridian, Mississippi
Died	December 31, 1987(1987-12-31) (aged 58) Baltimore, Maryland
Occupation	anchorman
Spouse(s)	Jean
Notable credit(s)	Co-anchor of WJZ-TV, Eyewitness News

Jerry Turner (August 6, 1929 – December 31, 1987) was an American television news anchorman at WJZ-TV in Baltimore, Maryland. He was from Meridian, Mississippi and started working at the Baltimore television station in 1962, starting the 6PM Newscast With Al Sanders in 1977.

Prior to his arrival on Television Hill, WJZ's news was mired in third place in a town that had three major network newscasts. In 1971, WBAL-TV was #1, WMAR-TV was #2, three years later, WJZ with Turner, Sanders, Bob Turk (weather) and Nick Charles (Sports) were a runaway #1 and stayed there through the 70s and into the 80s.^[1]

Turner was a co-anchor with Oprah Winfrey when she first moved to Baltimore. Winfrey has described Turner as condescending and hostile towards her.^[2]

Death

A resident of Lutherville, Maryland, Turner died from esophageal cancer at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore on December 31, 1987, 7:15 PM. His funeral was held at Towson Presbyterian Church.^[3]

Legacy

Each year, the Baltimore Community Foundation awards college scholarships in the name of Jerry Turner for those students who are interested in broadcast journalism.^[4]

Preceded by George Baumann

WJZ-TV Lead Anchors 1962 – 1987

Succeeded by Al Sanders

Notes

1. ^ "Baltimore Collapse". TVSpy Vault. 2005-05-26. http://www.vault.com/messages/TVSpyWatercooler/TVSpyWatercooler1361908.html. Retrieved 2008-04-16. 
2. ^ Zurawik, David. "From Sun Magazine: Oprah -- Built in Baltimore". BaltimoreSun.com. http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/sun-magazine/bs-sm-oprahs-baltimore-20110522,0,5333757.story?page=2. Retrieved 20 May 2011. 
3. ^ "Baltimore TV Reporter Jerry Turner Dies at 58". the Washington Post. 1988-01-01. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1231384.html. Retrieved 2008-04-16. 
4. ^ Lee, Peggy (2008-02-08). "Scholarships Turn College Dreams Into Realities". WJZ-TV. http://wjz.com/seenon/scholarship.jerry.turner.2.649554.html. Retrieved 2008-04-17. 

Persondata
Name	Turner, Jerry
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1929-08-06
Place of birth	Meridian, Mississippi
Date of death	1987-12-31
Place of death	Baltimore, Maryland