Former Seminole Educator Named to Murray State HOF
By Karen Evans (Editor’s note: Turner was a coach and teacher for Seminole Public Schools from 1974-1981).
Tom Turner has been a familiar face in and around Holdenville for most of his life. He is originally from Illinois but explains that his parents, Rev. Richard and Corean Turner moved to Holdenville when he was 11 years old and in the 6th grade. His father was the pastor at Harvest Time Church.
In 1967 Glen Wolfe coached the track program and by the end of the season, Turner said, “I was the only one left in the track program.” Coach Wolfe took Turner to the regional competition in Idabel after Turner had placed 3rd in the State Track Meet located in Oklahoma City. Turner placed third in those regionals held in 1967.
Turner says, “One day Coach Wolfe came by my house and asked if I had planned to attend college and had I considered Murray State College?” Turner explains that Coach Wolfe had explained that the football program was being dropped and the emphasis would now be on track in 1967. Wolfe then asks Turner, “Would you like to go to Murray State College and look around?” Turner agreed to go, and the events of the next day changed his life forever.
Coach Wolfe picked up Turner the next day and took him to Murray State College.
Turner states, “Before the day was over, I had a scholarship and financial aid and it all worked out wonderfully. I had a job working on Coach Wolfe’s fathers-in-law farm feeding animals and being a farm hand.”
Turner also explains that Coach Wolfe was also inducted as a member of the Murray State Athletic Hall of Fame.
Tom Turner was honored in a special ceremony on November 19, 2022, where he was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame at Murray State College.
Turner was the Assistant Superintendent of Holdenville Schools from 19942002. He also coached football and basketball, as well as track at Seminole Public Schools from 1974-1981.
Tom Turner is a 19671969 graduate of Murray State College. As a student, he was Student Senate Vice-President as well as Baptist Student Union President.
Turner is a NJCAA (National Junior College Athletics Association) JUCO (Junior College) All-American in the 880M run; the 1968 and 1969 Oklahoma JUCO Conference Champion in the 880M, 1-Mile and 1-Mile Relay; the 1968 and 1969 JUCO Region 2 NJCAA Champion in the 880M, 1-Mile and 1-Mile Relay; an Oklahoma JUCO record holder for the 880M and 1-Mile; and Region 2 NJCAA record holder in the 880M and 1-Mile Run.
Following his time at MSC, Turner became a member of the University of Oklahoma’s 2-Mile Relay Team that set a school record that stood for 10 years. As an educator, he has devoted 46 years to students as a teacher, coach, and superintendent.
Tom has been married to Laquita since 1969 and they have two daughters, Amy Johnson, and Sandra Teel. They attend The First Baptist Church in Atwood and the couple live in the Holdenville area. Turner has also covered sporting events for the Holdenville News since 1995.
Tom says he has been working for the census bureau about 80 hours a month and plans to stay busy, even during retirement. He also states that he will always be, “An Aggie for Life.”
