Savannah Standard

On June 28, 2023, a dedication ceremony was held at Woodville-Tompkins High School to honor former Coach Joseph J. Turner. The event was attended by district staff, Board of Education members, alumni, and school staff.

Coach Joe Turner made his mark at Savannah State College before embarking on a career as a football coach and athletic director at Tompkins High School. He played as an All-Conference player and captained the college's football team in the early 1950s. In 1952, he was named the institution's Man of the Year.

After graduating, Turner took up a coaching role at Tompkins High School, where he coached football, basketball, and track. His leadership led his football teams to three state championships in 1960, 1961, and 1964, along with five region championships in subsequent years. He earned the title of Georgia High School “Coach of the Year" seven times during his career which saw a record of 204 wins, 101 losses, and four ties. Turner retired as athletic director in 1981.

Turner is recognized as a member of both the Savannah State Hall of Fame and the Greater Savannah Athletic Hall of Fame. Among those he coached were notable athletes such as Olympic Gold Medalist Lucinda Williams Adams and professional football players Johnny Holmes, Hubert Ginn from Miami Dolphins, and Edwin Bailey from Seattle Seahawks.

Family members traveled from Atlanta for this occasion. Natasha Alim, Turner's granddaughter, assisted in unveiling a bust that will be placed outside the gym entrance. Former Coach Stanley Rivers and Olympic Gold Medalist Lucinda Williams Adams also participated in the event by sharing their memories of Coach Turner.