Full Name Jerry Joiner Occupation anchorman | Name Jerry Turner Role Anchorman | |
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Born August 6, 1929 Meridian, Mississippi Notable credit(s) Co-anchor of WJZ-TV, Eyewitness News Spouse(s) Jean McIntyre (1952-1987, his death) Died December 31, 1987, Balti, Maryland, United States | ||
Jerry turner tribute wjz tv aired jan 4 1988
Jerry Turner (August 6, 1929 – December 31, 1987) was an American television news anchorman at WJZ-TV in Baltimore, Maryland. He was from Meridian, Mississippi and started working at the Baltimore television station in August 1962, starting the 6PM Newscast With Al Sanders in 1977.
Contents
Prior to his arrival on Television Hill, WJZ's news was mired in third place in a town that had three major network newscasts. In 1971, WBAL-TV was #1, WMAR-TV was #2; three years later, WJZ with Turner, Sanders, Bob Turk (weather) and Nick Charles (Sports) was a runaway #1 and stayed there through the 70s and into the 80s.
Turner was a co-anchor with Oprah Winfrey when she first moved to Baltimore.
Illness & Death
A resident of Lutherville, Maryland, Turner was first diagnosed esophageal cancer in December 1986. He underwent a series of radiation and chemotherapy treatments and returned to the air in June 1987. He left the newscast in mid-December 1987 when his health deteriorated and died at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore on December 31, 1987, at 7:15 PM. His funeral was held at Towson Presbyterian Church.
Legacy
Each year, the Baltimore Community Foundation awards college scholarships in the name of Jerry Turner for those students who are interested in broadcast journalism.