(Seguin) – The Avenue E Street sign has officially been renamed to Jesse Turner Avenue. The renaming of the local street in memory of the late Jesse Turner was held on Saturday.
The petition to have the street’s name changed in her husband’s memory was Nancy Turner. For years, Nancy and her husband have been well known in the local community for their work with the Precious Life Crusade and Suicide Prevention, a non-profit program.
On top of their work with local families, Jess, himself, is best remembered for mentoring area at-risk youth by teaching them the game of golf. Just last year, Jess’s memory was recognized with the presentation of the first ever Jesse Turner Go Girl’s Golf Memorial Scholarship Fund. Jess reportedly came out of retirement at the age of 80 following a request by his daughter Nancy who wanted him to help a student, Brooke Hagen, play the game. Hagen and her parents later honored his legacy by creating the scholarship fund.
On hand during the street ceremony was Seguin Mayor Donna Dodgen. Dodgen says although an often rigorous and exhausting process, this was one request that the city felt was very deserving. Joined with officers from the Seguin Police Department and deputies with the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office, Dodgen officially proclaimed the renaming of the street.
“It’s really nice to do. She came in and she talked about all the things he did, and it seemed to be the right thing to do. He did a lot for our city and often times, we are careful how we honor and don’t use it overly much, but I think this is totally appropriate. This is where he was born and raised. They now live here. It seems so appropriate to do this Avenue after him and she asked, and it was just one of the most wonderful things that we could have done. I’m feeling gratitude that we could do that for her,” said Dodgen.
Changing the name of Avenue E to Jess Turner, however, was more than just ensuring a legacy for her husband, Turner says it was the fulfillment of a promise.
“It means a completion of a promise to a man I was married to for 56 years and he’s not going to be forgotten through the scholarships and that name will be up there forever when I’m long gone. It will probably outlive Seguin, but I thank God for letting this be fulfilled. It means a lot to me to fulfill a promise that I gave to someone who was on their way home,” said Turner.
In sharing his passion for golf with youth, Jess also founded the Elite Golf Club and Youth Club impacting 500 plus children. Through these clubs, Jess was able to offer free golf lessons and golf clubs. He will also be best remembered for his work in Seguin helping to steer youth away from drugs and alcohol. For years, his Jess Turner message has always been “We may never have a drug free city but we can work on having drug free kids.”