Ralph Turlington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ralph Turlington
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| Education Commissioner of Florida | |
| In office 1974–1986 |
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| Governor | Reubin Askew Bob Graham |
| Preceded by | Floyd T. Christian |
| Succeeded by | Betty Castor |
| Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives | |
| In office 1967–1969 |
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| Preceded by | E. C. Rowell |
| Succeeded by | Frederick H. Schultz |
| Member of the Florida House of Representatives from the Alachua County district |
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| In office 1950–1974 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Ralph Donald Turlington
October 5, 1920 Gainesville, Florida, U.S. |
| Died | May 12, 2021 (aged 100) Durham, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse |
Ann Gellerstedt
(m. 1946; died 2003) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Florida Harvard University |
| Occupation | insurance agent |
Ralph Donald Turlington Sr. (born October 5, 1920 – died May 12, 2021) was an important American politician from the state of Florida. He spent many years working to improve education and serve the people of Florida.
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Ralph Turlington's Early Life and Education
Ralph Turlington was born in Gainesville, Florida, in 1920. He was part of the very first class at the P. K. Yonge Developmental Research School. He graduated from there in 1938.
He then went to the University of Florida. There, he earned a degree in business. Later, he got his master's degree in the same field from Harvard University. Both universities recognized him as a distinguished, or outstanding, former student.
After finishing his studies, Turlington served in the United States Army. He fought in two major wars: World War II and the Korean War. After his military service, he worked at the University of Florida. In 1947, he became a teacher for a business group called Alpha Kappa Psi.
Serving Florida as a Leader
In 1950, Ralph Turlington was elected to the Florida House of Representatives. This is a group of elected officials who make laws for the state. He represented Alachua County. He served in the House for many years, until 1974.
From 1967 to 1969, he held a very important position: the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. The Speaker is the leader of the House.
After his time in the House, Turlington became the Florida Commissioner of Education. He held this job from 1974 to 1987. This role meant he was in charge of public education across the entire state. He was elected to a state office in Florida more times than anyone else in the state's history.
After leaving his role as Education Commissioner, Turlington worked as a consultant for the American College Testing Program (ACT). This program helps students prepare for college.
His Family Life
Ralph Turlington was married to Ann Gellerstedt. They were married until she passed away in 2003. They had two children, a son named Donald and a daughter named Katherine. Ralph Turlington lived to be 100 years old. He died on May 12, 2021, in Durham, North Carolina.
His Lasting Impact
Ralph Turlington's work left a big mark on Florida. A large building at the University of Florida is named after him: Ralph D. Turlington Hall. It's right in the middle of the campus. This building has many classrooms and is home to several departments in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Also, the main office building for the Florida Department of Education in Tallahassee is named in his honor. It's called the Turlington Building. These buildings show how much he contributed to education in Florida.
See also
- In Spanish: Ralph Turlington para niños
