• Yet another Bear to lead Baylor Scott and White as board chair

    Jim & Julie Turner

    Look closely, and you’ll find Baylor’s influence throughout the state of Texas’ largest non-profit health system. It starts with the system’s name: Baylor Scott & White Health. And since 2000, the system and its predecessor have been led by president and CEO Joel Allison, a 1970 Baylor graduate.

    Now this month, there’s a change at the top, as Baylor Scott & White named a new chair of its board of trustees. Yet even here, the green-and-gold flair continues, as one prominent Baylor alum follows another in the position.

    Jim Turner, BBA ’69, assumed the role of Baylor Scott & White Health board chairman last week, taking over for Drayton McLane Jr., BBA ’58, the inaugural board chairman after the historic 2012 merger that brought Dallas’ Baylor Health Care System into partnership with Scott & White. Turner has long been involved with Baylor Scott & White; in fact, he helped steer the merger while chairman of the board for Baylor Health Care System three years ago.

    Turner is perhaps best known for his outstanding career in the soft drink industry (and for Baylor fans in the 1960s, and as a standout basketball player). He worked his way up from being a helper on a beverage delivery truck in Houston to eventually becoming owner and CEO of the Dr Pepper Bottling Co. of Texas, which (under his leadership) became the largest privately owned bottling company in the U.S.

    Here at Baylor, you might recognize the Turner name from its connection to Baylor Athletics; a gift from he and his wife, Julie (BA ’67, MS ’68) provided for Baylor’s first transformational athletic facilities along the Brazos River, the Julie and Jim Turner Riverfront Athletic Complex, which includes Baylor Ballpark, Getterman Stadium, the Hurd Tennis Center and Betty Lou Mays Soccer Field.

    Turner told D Magazine that his goals as chairman include expanding Baylor Scott & White further throughout Texas, and maybe even looking outside the state as well.

    Sic ’em, Chairman Turner!