photo by Special to The Record

Flight plan: Troy Turner is pictured here right before a flight in a World War II era Avenger dive bomber.

DHS grad achieves much in journalism

By Dale Liesch (Contact) | Dadeville Record

Published Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Troy Turner has met with presidents, world leaders and traveled the world, but his heart remains part of the Lake Martin area.

The 1980 graduate of Dadeville High School and award-winning journalist has done some amazing things in his career. He has met and interviewed world leaders including American presidents, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and the prime minister of the world’s largest democracy in India.

“There’s a great sense of accomplishment,” said Turner, who grew up in the Union area. “It shows that you can accomplish your dreams through good education and upbringing.”

Although Turner says interviewing famous people and finding out they’re just like everyday people is interesting, the current editor of The Farmington (N.M.) Daily Times says meeting with regular people everyday is just as rewarding.

“It’s just as interesting to meet with local people as it is to meet with celebrities,” Turner said. “Meeting with everyday people, I just love it.”

Among all the experiences his career has offered him, Turner’s chance to pilot an F-16 fighter jet at a Colorado air show in the 1990s really sticks out. Turner wrote a book entitled “Colorado’s Lost Squadron,” which is about the stories of military aircraft and their crews training in Colorado during World War II. He was later invited to ride along in the cockpit of the jet and pilot it at the air show.

“I got 30 minutes of flight time,” Turner said. “It was a great experience.”

As a 1984 graduate of Auburn University, Turner also remembers covering the first of several Iron Bowls.

“It was a lot of fun for me because I went to school with Bo (Jackson) and Charles Barkley,” Turner said. “The opportunities you get in journalism are amazing.”

Turner has served as a juror to help judge the Pulitzer Prizes on “hallowed journalism ground.” He has also lectured at universities throughout the country. He was also selected as an “up-and-coming editor” in The New York Times company during his career.

“It’s a lot of fun for someone who grew up here,” Turner said.

Turner also recently received the McGruder Award, which is considered the nation’s highest newspaper honor for promoting diversity and combating racism.

“It’s definitely highest journalism achievement I’ve ever earned,” Turner said. “I’m very grateful to have achieved this.”

Turner has worked for several papers in Alabama including: The Alexander City Outlook, The Opelika-Auburn News and The Anniston Star. He has also worked in Colorado and Hattiesburg, Miss.

Turner said he met his wife in the Dadeville area and they have three teenaged children.

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