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January 18, 2002

Turner hangs up
political hat and spurs

State Representative Bob Turner (Voss) announced Jan. 2 that he will not seek re-election to the Texas House of Representatives. Turner was elected in 1991 in a special election. During his tenure, he led the charge for rural issues. He is perhaps best known as author of the "Veggie Libel" bill and co-author of the major property rights bill in 1995.

A sheep, beef cattle, small grain and hay producer, Turner was elected to the Texas Farm Bureau board of directors in 1985. He served as vice president from December 1988 to November 1989. Turner also served on the TFB Resolutions Committee, Blue Ribbon Goals Committee, and as chairman of the Texas Rural Health Committee. In 1988, AFBF President Dean Kleckner named Turner to the AFBF Rural Health Committee, and in 1990, he was named chairman of the national committee. Turner was appointed by former Secretary of Agriculture Richard Lyng to represent Texas Farm Bureau on a special USDA national advisory committee on animal damage control. Prior to his election to the TFB board, Turner served as vice president of the Coleman County FB board and as the Coleman CFB president three years.

In his Jan. 2 letter to colleagues and other state officials, Turner wrote, "After serving 35 years in the United States Army and 12 years in the Texas House of Representatives, I have decided to retire. For 47 proud years, I have served my country and my state. This last session, I had one of my most effective sessions ever. I passed legislation that promoted rural economic growth, established an endowment fund for health care professionals, and protected the water and property rights of my district, and Texas as a whole.

"I was one of the lucky ones who had the opportunity to work effectively with former Gov. George W. Bush, Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock, and Speaker Pete Laney, creating bi-partisanship between the parties. There were times we did not see things eye to eye, but we respected each other's opinion. The State of Texas will sorely miss that type of bi-partisan leadership.

"I have always had a deep passion for this great state and the foundation it was built upon, but the future holds me in deep concern of the direction of this state and its leadership. Many people viewed being elected to the House or Senate as a 'social status.' I viewed it as a job that I was fortunate enough to serve. I have accomplished my goals as a legislator and it's time for me to move on. My dear wife Ann, who has put up with me for 43 years, wants me to do things at home, and I have three precious grandchildren that I need to spoil rotten as grandparents should do.

"So, to all my constituents, friends, and colleagues, I'll see you at the Capitol when it's `Former Legislator's Day,' or maybe we can sit down for a cup of coffee at the Dairy Queen. It has been my pleasure serving Texans for 12 strong years and I bid you farewell.

"It's been fun, it's been real, but my tenure or insaneness had to end someday, so I'm hanging up my hat and spurs and heading to the house. Ann, I'm coming home!"