SHSU Update for Week of April 15

• Endowment Honors Alums
• Alpha Chi Chapter is 'Star'
• Football Dinner and Auction

Endowment Honors Alums

Both have been honored with the establishment of the Robert and Billie LaRoe Turner Endowment Fund at Sam Houston State University. Houston lawyer Ronald D. Krist set up the endowment with a donation of $50,000.

"Robert Turner, before and after his accident, made the world a far better place," said Krist. "The doctors said after his accident in 1971 that he might live three years. Through Billie's care his life was extended, and this endowment honors both of their lives."

Robert grew up in Trinity and finished high school in Huntsville. He served in the U. S. Navy during World War II, and enrolled at Sam Houston State where he was a tailback on the football team. He met Billie LaRoe, they married, and began their career in education.

He was a teacher, coach and administrator in Freer, Navasota, Bellville and Pearland, retiring seven years after the accident, in 1978, and moving back to Trinity.

He was inducted into the Bearkat Hall of Honor in 1979, and was one of the Sam Houston Letterman Association's most active and faithful members.

Before the accident he was an excellent golfer. After the accident he and Billie continued to enjoy the game as tournament volunteers.

"He was so gifted athletically and had to surrender this aspect of his life," said Krist. "With Billie's help, he made such a marvelous adjustment."

The endowment will provide an annual scholarship for a student in the College of Education and Applied Science who has been accepted into the teacher education program and who has a grade point average of 3.0 or better.

Krist said he encourages others who might like to honor Robert and Billie Turner to also contribute to the endowment. Gifts may be sent to the Office of University Advancement at Sam Houston State University.

Alpha Chi Chapter is 'Star'

The SHSU chapter was also one of only eight in the nation, and the only one in Texas, to have received the award each of the six years it has been presented.

Activities by the SHSU chapter, named Texas Omicron, have included sponsoring a reception honoring new members and faculty members and co-sponsoring a reception honoring student and faculty writers.

Alpha Chi is a national college honor scholarship society with 325 chapters and 280,388 members.

Football Dinner and Auction

A social hour and silent auction is scheduled for 6-7 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m. and auction to follow.

Tickets are $30 each, $50 per couple, or $200 for a table of eight. For tickets and information call the SHSU football department at 936.294.1735.

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SHSU Media Contacts: Frank Krystyniak, Julia May
April 15, 2001
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