|
|
Turner Dedicated Life to Agriculture
LEXINGTON, Ky., (Aug. 29, 2006) – Larry Turner, associate dean
for Extension in the University of Kentucky College of
Agriculture and director of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension
Service, dedicated his life to agriculture from his roots on an
Indiana farm until his death Sunday morning.
As leader of the state’s 375-agent Cooperative Extension
Service, Turner traveled across the state and beyond in his
efforts to improve the lives of Kentuckians. He was on the job
early Sunday morning heading to an Extension administrators’
conference in Puerto Rico when he perished in a plane crash.
He was known as a strong believer of UK Cooperative Extension’s
ability to improve people’s lives and was an enthusiastic
supporter of grassroots Extension programs including agriculture
and natural resources, 4-H youth development, family and
consumer sciences and community and economic development. He
often said Extension could be described in three words, “people,
programs and partnerships.”
“We will remember Dr. Turner as a modest and easygoing man, with
a quiet self-confidence and a powerful sense of purpose that
made him an innovative and aggressive leader,” said Scott Smith,
Dean of the UK College of Agriculture. “In only a few years, he
had a tremendous impact on Kentucky Cooperative Extension. His
professional legacy will be an extension system and a college
that is stronger than ever and poised for the decades ahead.”
Turner joined UK in 1978 as an Extension agricultural engineer
and faculty member in energy management. In 1999 he was promoted
to chair of the Department of Biosystems and Agricultural
Engineering. In January, 2002 he became Associate Dean.
Raised on an Indiana farm, Turner, earned bachelor’s and
master’s degrees in agricultural engineering from Purdue
University. He earned a Ph.D. in agricultural engineering from
UK in 1984.
In addition to his Extension and applied research activities,
Turner taught courses in the dynamics of biological systems and
in design of ventilation and environmental control.
He led multistate, multidisciplinary efforts in development of a
swine growth computer model now used in four states. Turner's
Extension program focused on cattle-forage systems such as
geotextile pads, fencing, water supply and paddock layout, as
well as cooling systems
for dairy and swine. As a visiting scientist at Silsoe Research
Institute in Great Britain, he conducted research on air quality
effects on swine.
Under Turner's leadership, the biosystems and agricultural
engineering department increased external research and Extension
grants from an annual level of $250,000 in 1999 to more than $4
million at the time he became associate dean.
As associate dean, he spearheaded a statewide streamlining and
enhancement effort called “Re-envisioning Extension,” and led
the successful effort to develop the County Enhancement
Initiative which established a county agent career advancement
track.
Turner believed in the mission of Extension and its role in
“taking the university to the people.” He also was dedicated to
making sure Extension was a diverse organization, serving as a
member of the National Extension Diversity Task Force.
Harold Benson, Director of Land Grant Programs at Kentucky State
University, described Turner as a giant among men. The two
worked together as leaders of their respective university’s
Extension programs.
“I will hold tight to the memories I have of him,” Benson said.
“He was able to bridge university to university and program to
program in a gentle but effective way. The university is better
for Larry walking their way. He shall be missed. On behalf of
Kentucky State University and myself, I say thank you, Larry,
and for all the people he has helped serve, I say thank you. Our
thoughts go out to his family.”
Turner’s family includes his wife of nearly 30 years, Lois, and
children Molly, Amy and Clay. The family has asked that any
gifts and contributions be directed to the Larry W. Turner
Scholarship Fund through the College of Agriculture Office of
Advancement, Room N212, Agricultural Science Center North,
Lexington, KY 40546-0091. |
Contact: Laura Skillman, 270-365-7541, ext. 278
Haven Miller, 859-257-4736 ext. 272 |
|
The UK College
of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission, reaches across
the commonwealth with teaching, research and extension
to enhance the lives of Kentuckians. |
Questions/Comments, e-mail the
webmaster
Copyright © 2001-2006 University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture,
Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service |
News Home
Other Headlines This Week
More
News
RSS Now Available
for those
using news aggregation programs
College News
|
