Newton County Schools establishes Almond J. Turner Legacy Award for Leadership and Service

Newton County Schools announced the creation of the Almond J. Turner Legacy Award for Leadership and Service during remarks at a meeting. The award was presented as a way to honor Almond J. Turner’s decades of community service, speakers said.

The award recognizes Turner’s roles across local institutions. “Almond Turner was more than a leader. He was a pillar of Newton County, a protector, a mentor, and a servant at heart. His impact is everywhere,” Speaker 1 (commenter) said. Speakers described Turner’s service as spanning law enforcement, education and faith communities.

Speakers said Turner served in the police department (referred to as assistant chief or captain in comments), on the board of education, as a deacon, as a leader of men’s groups and as a member of the community band. “I used to say, you know, I wanted to be like Almond when I grew up because of what he meant, to this community and what the community meant to him,” Speaker 2 (commenter) said. Another speaker added, “He served in his church, you know, as a deacon. He he led, you know, men's groups and, so many different things, you know, in this community. He's part of the community band.” (Speaker 2).

Family members and others reflected on Turner’s personal qualities. “As a dad, no matter what the situation is, no matter how difficult it was, he always was nonjudgmental. He listened. He loved,” Speaker 6 (commenter) said. A family member — identified in remarks only as a relative of Turner — said the county’s recognition “means the world to me and my family and my sisters and especially my mother” (Speaker 6).

Speakers framed the award as a way to continue Turner’s influence. “To honor his legacy, Newton County Schools has created the Almond J. Turner Legacy Award for Leadership and Service,” Speaker 1 (commenter) said. Accepting the award was described as a heavy honor: “Accepting an Almond Turner Legacy Award would be, a huge set of shoes to have to fill,” Speaker 5 (commenter) said.

Remarks repeatedly emphasized Turner’s lifelong ties to Covington and Newton County and his focus on serving all sectors of the community. “Because he was such a trailblazer, in the place of his birth, the place where he raised his family… the city of Covington, the county of Newton, was a sacred place for him,” Speaker 4 (commenter) said.

Speakers closed by saying Turner’s influence will continue through people he inspired and through the award. “Almond Turner's legacy lives on through the people he inspired. Through this award, his impact will continue for generations,” Speaker 1 (commenter) said.

No formal vote or further implementation details for the award were recorded in the meeting transcript provided.