Florida Today from Cocoa, Florida • Page 24

FLORIDA TODAY, Monday. July 19, 1993 Willie Turner's will powers recovery from injuries The Turner file Born: White Springs. Graduated: Florida University, Tallahassee, bachelor's degree in education, 1953; masters administration and supervision, 1959; masters guidance and counseling, 1962. 1 955-63: Elementary teacher, guidance counselor, assistant principal in Jasper. 1963-68: Assistant principal, acting principal at Gibson High School in Titusville.

Developed a desegregation plan for all North Brevard schools and reassigned students from the all-black Gibson School to other schools. 1968-72: Assistant principal, Titusville High School. 1972-73: Assistant principal, Astronaut High School. 1973-83: Principal, Mims Elementary School. 1983-89: Principal, Riverview Elementary in Titusville.

Riverview achieved State Merit School status. 1989-present Principal, Apollo Elementary, Titusville. Turner, seated in a wheelchair, came into the room with his wife. "I can't express the joy I felt at that moment" Turner said, a tear trickling down his cheek. "I had so looked forward to seeing the kids and the faculty." Turner's doctors advised him to ease back into work in fall 1991, putting in half-days until he regained his strength.

That arrangement worked the first day of school, but neither doctors nor his wife could talk him into an easier schedule. He has been putting in full days ever since. Turner, who says he has had nearly every job in the school system from janitor to principal takes a hands-on approach to education. His pockets always are full of hard, hot candy called Fireballs, which he dispenses freely along with hugs. His years of going the extra mile were paid back royally after the accident He was assistant principal at Astronaut High School when Cole graduated in 1974.

Cole used a technique that he pioneered to rejoin Turner's bones with screws inserted through tiny incisions. "Mr. Turner and others at AHS gave me the tools to learn, but they also gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams," Cole said. "Without him pushing me, who knows if these specialized techniques would have been developed that helped make his recovery possible?" Cole remembers Turner as a tough, consistent disciplinarian who knew each student by name. Turner still insists on orderly class rooms, but his approach has softened.

A few weeks before the accident he fulfilled a promise to Apollo pupils by arriving at school in a pink Cadillac, wearing a pink tuxedo and dancing on the school roof. The stunt was to celebrate the school's success in getting four computers through a grocery store promotion. Turner is not dancing as much as he used to and he might have to undergo more surgeries. He walks with a cane because his right leg remains stiff, but the tough-minded educator is not accepting many limitations. "I learned to be thankful that I am in as good of shape as I am," he said.

"You learn to appreciate the simple things of life, like speaking and shaving yourself." Turner says he has not wavered from his life's goal of serving as a superintendent of schools somewhere. He has learned to take life one day at a time and will continue working as long as he feels capable, he said. The one thing he has given up is the desire to be a politician. The accident brought the Turner family closer, and for that they are thankful. They found the strength to face the death of their 32-year-old son, Willie Turner III, in October and the death of Turner's 82-year-old father in August "I have learned to appreciate the finer things and enjoy each day," Turner said.

"Tomorrow isn't promised so you try to live today as well as you can, and treat people the best you can. "Perhaps what I have come through will give others hope." and banners the (school) children made and sent" The outpouring of love and concern from Apollo students and others almost overwhelmed the family. More than 1,000 cards, letters and handmade banners arrived during his hospital stay and blanketed the walls of his room. Turner is matter-of-fact about much of his ordeal, but his demeanor changes when he talks about his 4 students. He was released from the hospital June 7, 1991, which happened to be the last day of school.

He wanted to stop by Apollo even before going home. Students, teachers and parents were gathered in the cafeteria, waiting. The room thundered when Visit pays off in role On a recent visit to Los Angeles, Sally Verdugt of Rockledge landed a part in an upcoming epsiode of the Home Box Office comedy, "Dream On." Verdugt, daughter of VERDUGT Joyce and Wll- lard Verdugt of Rockledge, plays a nurse who has an encounter with the show's star. The show is scheduled to air in November. Military matters Air Force Capt Scott Kinder, son of Robert and Anne Kinder of Melbourne and a graduate of Satellite High School, has received the Air Force Achievement Award for his work as an instructor pilot at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas.

Kinder currently is a pilot at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. Marine Cpl. Kevin Pabst, son of Robert and Margaret Pabst of Titusville, recently received a Certificate of Commendation for superior peformance while assigned with Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan. Pvt Steven Pressley, son of Cecil Pressley of Melbourne and Margie Bartell of Palm Bay, has completed basic training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C. Pressley is a 1988 graduate of Palm Bay High School.

Happy day Happy birthday to Central Brevard RSVP members Sally Jake-way and Betty Winston, to South Brevard RSVP member Irene Rummage and to Meals on Wheels volunteer Laurie Bert Reported by Kathy Reakes Send Information to Florida Today, Milestones, P.O. Box 419000, Melbourne, FL 32941-9000. BINGO MONDAY 10:30 A.M. NEW ALL PAPER BINGO! PACKAGE PRICE: S12, $16, $20, $25 Doors Open At 9:00 A.M. FREE EARLY BIRDS $250 JACKPOT FOUR COMMUNITIES Mrfc utri.

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WEO MUM TURNER, From ID 'Turner credits the support he 'received from his family, friends, church, co-workers and students with giving him the courage to get well. And when pressed, he quietly admits to some inner strength. "(Therapists at Lucerne) said, -'Don't be disappointed in your but they didn't see the )Bre in his eyes," said Grade his wife of 37 years. This accident showed us the depth of his fighting spirit" Friends say Turner, the only child of an elementary schoolteach- er and a riverboat captain, always has been a tough person, both physically and emotionally. They also agreed that part of that tenacity comes from his family.

"His family was ever-present," Diggs said. 'There were times when we were not sure he would make it, but Gracie kept us encouraged." Her strength was rooted in faith and the knowledge that her husband's job on Earth was not finished. "From the time I first saw him 'after the accident, in my heart I never, ever felt we would lose him," -Gracie said. "I said, 'Lord, I know there's a reason and you'll bring him through Gracie constantly was by his side, even though her husband's jaw was wired shut and he could not 'respond to her unending encour-; agement "My marriage vows said 'in sickness and in she said. Palm Bay Extension Homemak-ers Club: Meets at 9:30 a.m.

-Wednesday at the First Baptist Church of Palm Bay. Call 768-7790. Merrltt Island Extension Homemakers Club: Meets at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Kiwanis Island Annex on Merritt Island. Call 453-1239 or 453-2826.

Senior Citizens Space Age Club: Meets at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the 7 Senior Center, 400 S. 4th Beach. Call 784-2313. Space Coast Chapter of the 5 "I Iff -n VT Cri i) ttv ft rl.yfi if (mevV SflwW Vv cwfociw A a B.

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676-0RB0 lliil "The least I could do was be there and hope my presence gave him the strength to do what he needed to do." Their daughter, Connie, a nurse who works in New Jersey, left her job to tend her father until he was out of intensive care. "I sometimes felt sorry for the nurses," Turner said. "(Connie) was very protective of me and kept them on their toes." His parents, Willie and Sadie Turner, also came from their home in White Springs. "The Turners are a close-knit family," said George Fayson, assistant principal at Titusville's Jackson Middle School and a friend of 30 years. "He pulled great strength from them as well as from the cards Grumman Retiree Club: Meets at 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday at the Holiday Inn in Cocoa Beach. Call 723-2794. Brevard Association of Human Services: Meets at noon Wednesday in the Community Room at Gannett Plaza Florida Today in Melbourne. Call 639-8770. Indian River City Civic Association: Meets at noon for bingo at 4220 S.

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a Sat Starting at 12:00 Noon, PRE! coffee domrta until 11:30 am. IN THE LAST ACTION LINE OF FIRE 7:5010:05 HERO 845 (PG-13) SNOW WHITE 2:30440650 FREE WILLY (PC) 2 00 4:30 7 S5 9 50 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR (PG-1J) 1:504:10 7:15 9:25 HO Finn 1:00 4:00 7:00 10:00 sojr-m- LAW (PO-1J) 1:40 345 745 940 SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE PO) 1-30 5 50 720 9 30 WEEKEND BERNIE'S II (PC) 210 4 25 7 25 9 25 JURASSIC PARK (PG-13) 1:15 415 710 945 DENNIS THE MENACE (PC) Tr Axri t.An a KENT THrTRES A TqB THEATRCS PALMS 8 ROXY 1 0 N. ENO BABCOCK AT LAURIE 1663 PALM BAY RO. N.E. (OF S1.SO A nncxrrf Mfor Qami artrrri, $2.00 JLM HI 1J "I bit Meets at noon Wednesday at the Central Brevard Library and Reference Center, Cocoa.

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Titusville Sertoma Club: Meets at noon Wednesday at LaCita Country Club in Titusville. Call 267-3036. AUVbNIURcS Of THE AMERICAN RABBIT 2:15 4:00 DRAGON -The Bruce Lee Story 00-11 2:00 4:18 7:00 9:15 INDECENT PROPOSAL INSIDE MERRITT SQUARE MALL 80H-UUAW II 30 OOtS 45 4I 10:30 (PQ-I3I ROOKIE OF THE YEAR 12 15 14S IS XQ $1.00) tOO 10:20 IPO) 8NOW WHITE 12:00 1:30 If: IS 9 $100) LAST ACTION HERO WHAT'S LOVE OOT TO DO WITH IT $1.00) 7:36 10:00 SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE 12 40 3 16 0-00 $100) 1.30 10:40 (PQJ JURASSIC PARK 113020014 50 $2 00) 7:30 10:10 (PQ-13) OUTSIDE MERRITT SQUARE MAU HOCUSPOCUS 12 IS $2.00) HO 10:30 (PQ) CLIFFHANOER 12:46 16:00 $2.00) 10:30 im Hi THE LINE OF FIRE tUSS 1:00 14:20 $2.0017:10 MtNALt IfitO tm 11:46 1:60 (6:16 $200) 7:66 10:20 (PQ) WEEKEND AT BERNIESH THE FIRM $2.00) $2.00) 7:26 7:40 0:66 (PO) 40719GW mailll-l aa.i.j. ua NOW SHOWING UW-tyrrt PICTURES Minim -flooispocLis mwm it wh on rcmi tumtiL iKmimaiuarni Space Coast Quitters: Meets at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the First Baptist Church of Titusville.

Call 383-1719. Widows and Friends South Brevard: Meets at 1 p.m. Wednesday at St Mark's Methodist Church in Indialantic. Call Mary Ellen Myers at 727-0993 or Dorothy Baar at 773-1485. Space Coast Skating Club: Meets for practice at 3 p.m.

each Wednesday through Friday and at 8 a.m. Sunday at Galaxy Skateway in Melbourne and on Merritt Island. Call 723-8270. OUR SAVIOUR'S CHURCH BINGO EVERY MONDAY NIGHT 7 P.M. EARLY BIRDS START AT 6 P.M.

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Wednesday at Miguel's Posada Del Rey restaurant 19 S. New Haven Melbourne. Call 727-1555. Duplicate Bridge Group: Meets at 12:30 p.m. each Wednesday at the Veterans Memorial Center on Merritt Island.

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