Tony Turner lived all of his life in Harlan County Kentucky.
He was born at Harlan Appalachian Regional Hospital on January 13th, 1962.
He attended kindergarten through 6th grade at Rosspoint Elementary School.
Then Jr. High at Loyall KY. High school was spent at James A. Cawood in Harlan,
where he graduated in 1980.
Tony was named Station Manager and Vice
President of WYMT-TV, Hazard, Kentucky in 2001. He began his broadcasting career
at WFSR radio in Harlan at around age 16. He started his career while still in highschool
as a part time announcer and advanced to general manager of WFSR. He made the jump
to television when he became a general assignment reporter for WYMT less than a year
after the station signed on the air for the first time. A short time later, he was named
News Director and six o'clock anchor, a position he held for 16 years.
Tony anchored several popular 30 minute shows such as "Issues and Answers..The Mountain Edition";
"Point, Counterpoint". His love for politics led him to be moderator for several political
debates in Eastern Kentucky. Tony had a great love for Eastern Kentucky and his desire
to see it improve was a passion that could not be hidden. This was seen through his
involvement as the first Chairman of the Board for the Pride Program, being a member
of the Rural Developement Committee, and many other leadership positions for the developement
of eastern Kentucky. Tony was proceeded in death by one son, Cody Turner.
He is survived by his parents, Walter and Marie Turner, Putney KY;
his wife Geraldine Turner, Loyall KY; two children, Courtney and Cameron both of Loyall KY;
one brother Tracy Turner of Harlan. He was laid to rest in the Farley Family Cemetery
across from Pumpkin Center on KY 840 at Watts Creek Kentucky.
A Broadcast scholarship fund has been set up in Tony's memory to help deserving students obtain an education in the field Tony enjoyed all his life. If you'd like to make a contribution, you may send it to:
Tony Turner Broadcast Scholarship Fund, WYMT TV, P.O. Box 1299, Hazard, KY. 41702.
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