Ceremony Will Mark Naming of Military Science Building for Frederick C. Turner Jr.
JONESBORO – Arkansas State University commemorates the naming of the Lieutenant Colonel Frederick C. Turner Jr. Military Science Building with a special ceremony on the Friday before its 2021 Homecoming, Chancellor Kelly Damphousse announced this week.
A-State welcomes back to campus Lt. Col. Turner and his family for an unveiling of the new name at the Turner Military Science Building at 2 p.m. on Nov. 5. For members of the extended ROTC alumni unable to attend, the ceremony will be livestreamed by the university.
“It was our distinct honor to propose the naming of the Turner Military Science Building,” Damphousse said. “Lt. Col. Turner was a trailblazer for our institution, and an outstanding representation of A-State. And the impetus to honor him began with our students, which in its own way is the highest honor an alum could expect.”
Former A-State Student Government President Rashad Kirksey shepherded the proposal to name the facility for the university’s first Black instructor of military science through the SGA, then sought the endorsement of the university administration prior to a formal resolution to the ASU System Board of Trustees. The trustees unanimously approved the naming at its spring board meeting.
Now a law student at the University of Missouri, Kirksey will be among the speakers honoring Lt. Col. Turner at the ceremony.
The current ROTC professor of military science at A-State, Lt. Col. J. Morgan Weatherly, along with distinguished members of the A-State ROTC Alumni and the current members of the Red Wolves Battalion will join in the ceremony.
“This is a significant event for the cadets and alumni of the ROTC program. We are grateful to celebrate it with the university and our community partners, and I am personally humbled to have the opportunity to honor the leadership and contributions of one of the battalion’s historic leaders,” Weatherly said.
The dedication is part of a week of special events surrounding the 85th anniversary of the A-State program. More information on the week’s events, including the annual Hall of Heroes induction, can be found at AState.edu/ROTC.
