Biographical Text
Professor Emeritus of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science Edward Thomas Turner (June 25, 1941) was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the only child of Clara Alice Smith (1913-1999) and Charles Turner (1910-2003). He graduated from Neshaminy High School in 1958 and earned his B.S. degree (1963) from Penn State in 1963. In 1965, he earned an M.A. and in 1968 the Ph.D, both from the University of Maryland. Turner has two sons: Luke Jeffrey (April 5, 1969-) and Matthew Joshua (August 7, 1973-). Luke graduated from Appalachian State University and lives in Boone, North Carolina. Matt is a student at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington and lives in Wilmington with his wife, Gina. They have five children between them; Katlyn, Abby, Joshua, Lauren, and Susanna. Ed taught in Pennsylvania secondary schools for one-half year and then spent 3 years as a graduate teaching assistant and assistant instructor at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD. (1963-65). Ed then became an instructor of Physical Education, Chair of the department, and Intramural and Athletics Director at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, MD (1966-68). Dr. "Ed" was appointed assistant professor of health and physical education at Appalachian State University in 1968. At the age of 33, in 1974, he was promoted to full professor. During his tenure at Appalachian Ed taught 41 different courses including activity, teacher prep, theory and graduate courses. His areas of expertise were racquet sports, teaching methods, sports management, and facility design and planning. From 1990 to 1999, Ed served as the teaching improvement consultant for the Department of Health, Leisure, and Exercise Science. In this capacity, Ed helped 100+ faculty become better teachers. Turner also held the positions of undergraduate coordinator, graduate coordinator, and ombudsman. He also established and co-directed the Interdisciplinary Creativity Center at Appalachian State, where he taught five different creativity courses and gave numerous seminars for campus and town personnel (1978-90). Dr. Turner's proudest achievements are the teaching awards he received at Appalachian State. Those awards included the first university-wide teaching award in 1971; the NCAHPERD University Physical Educator of the Year award in 1990; the North Carolina Board of Governors' Award for Outstanding Teaching (college recipient in 1995 and the university recipient in 1997); the Appalachian State University Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award in 1997-1998; the North Carolina Board of Governors Award for Outstanding Teaching (University of North Carolina system recipient 1998); and the Student Government Association Outstanding Teacher Award, College of Fine and Applied Arts, in 1999. Turner advised 17 masters theses at Appalachian and has had 40 of his masters advisees go on to finish their doctorates. Ed also advised the Graduate Sport Management Club (1996-2000), Pump Iron Training Society (1980-2000), and the Physical Education Academy (1969-80 and 1989-1994). Ed served on the ASU faculty senate from 1969 to 1971, serving as vice chair in 1970. Turner was also active on many other departmental and university committees. His last major role at Appalachian State was planning consultant for the $36.5 million Holmes Convocation Center. He coordinated the plans with academics, athletics, administration, students, housekeeping, and the architects-volunteering 600 hours of his time. Turner was also active professionally in his national organization, the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance where he served as chair of the Facilities and Equipment Council and served on the council's executive committee (1981-2000). Dr. Turner has authored three books and 90+ articles that have appeared in professional journals. He has also made more than 50 presentations. Some of Dr. Turner's numerous publications follow: • "Winning Racquetball Skills and Drills." (1996). • "Preemptive and Pausal Prompts." Journal of Physical Education Recreation and Dance (1999). • "Assessing the Recognition of Perimeter Advertising Signage by Television Viewers of NASCAR Winston Cup Events." Sport Marketing Quarterly (1999) (with C. Hartshaw). • "Effect of Exercise and Music on Creativity of College Students." Journal of Creative Behavior (1992) (with K. Curnow). Dr. Turner retired from teaching June 30, 2000 and is currently married to Paula Perusse. The couple lives in Lyman, Maine in the village of Goodwins Mills. He enjoys working on his 150-year-old home and is an antique dealer. Turner deals in American colonial smalls, early leather books, ephemera, early toys, Victorian smalls, and vintage sports equipment. He is currently working on his fourth book entitled, Antique Sports Uniform and Equipment - A Practical Guide for Schiffer Publishing. The book was published in the fall of 2008. Turner is active in his community, serving as secretary to the community library board of directors and heading the Goodwins Mills Safety Committee. He also serves on the Lyman Budget Committee, Hiring Committee and the Town Building and Maintenance Committee. Sources: Appalachian State University files, and personal correspondence. -Dr. Kay R. Dickson
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