Ralph Turlington

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Ralph Turlington
RDTurlington.jpg
Education Commissioner of Florida
In office
1974–1986
GovernorReubin Askew
Bob Graham
Preceded byFloyd T. Christian
Succeeded byBetty Castor
Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
In office
1967–1969
Preceded byE. C. Rowell
Succeeded byFrederick H. Schultz
Member of the Florida House of Representatives
from the Alachua County district
In office
1950–1974
Personal details
Born
Ralph Donald Turlington

(1920-10-05)October 5, 1920
Gainesville, Florida, U.S.
DiedMay 12, 2021(2021-05-12) (aged 100)
Durham, North Carolina, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
Ann Gellerstedt
​
​
(m. 1946; died 2003)​
[1]
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Florida
Harvard University
Occupationinsurance agent

Ralph Donald Turlington Sr. (October 5, 1920 – May 12, 2021) was an American politician from the state of Florida.

Early life[]

Turlington was born in Gainesville, Florida in 1920. Turlington was in the inaugural class of the P. K. Yonge Developmental Research School, where he was a distinguished alumni, graduating in 1938. He attended the University of Florida, where he was also a distinguished alumni, to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in business and Harvard University for his master's degree in the same field.[2]

After completing his education, Turlington served in the United States Army during World War II and the Korean War. After the war, he worked at the University of Florida.[2] In 1947, he became a faculty member of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity.[3] He received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Florida in 1968.[4]

Florida House of Representatives[]

He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1950 for Alachua County.[5] He would serve until 1974, eventually also serving as speaker from 1967 to 1969.[2] He was the Florida Commissioner of Education from 1974 to 1987.[2] He was elected to Constitutional office in Florida more times than any other person in the history of Florida. Following his service as Commissioner of Education, Turlington joined the American College Testing Program (ACT) and served full-time as a consultant to longtime friend Dr. James W. Carr.

Personal life[]

Turlington was married to Ann Gellerstedt (until her death in 2003)[6] and had two children, Donald and Katherine.[7] Turlington died on May 12, 2021, at the age of 100, in Durham, North Carolina.[8][9][10]

Legacy[]

A facility at the University of Florida, Ralph D. Turlington Hall, is named after him.[4] The Florida Department of Education headquarters in Tallahassee, the Turlington Building, is also named in his honor.[11]

References[]

  1. ^ [1]
  2. ^ a b c d "Ralph D. Turlington Papers - UF Special and Area Studies Collections". Web.uflib.ufl.edu. October 5, 1920. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  3. ^ Alpha Phi chapter of AKPsi membership roll
  4. ^ a b "University of Florida Foundation". Uff.ufl.edu. January 3, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  5. ^ Ward, Robert L. / Florida House of Representatives (2011). "Membership of the Florida House of Representatives by County, 1845-2012" (PDF). Retrieved December 11, 2011.
  6. ^ "Dec. 27, 2003". Gainesville.com. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  7. ^ The Florida Handbook - Google Books. 1970. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
  8. ^ [2]
  9. ^ Vasilinda, Mike (May 14, 2021). "Man who created Florida Lottery dies at 100". WJHG-TV. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  10. ^ https://www.floridaphoenix.com/2021/05/15/ralph-turlington-former-commissioner-of-education-and-force-in-fl-politics-dies-at-100/
  11. ^ "Power fails in new education building". Pqasb.pqarchiver.com. May 5, 1990. Retrieved December 9, 2012.
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