Debbye Turner
Encyclopedia
Debbye Turner-Bell is an American veterinarian
, talk show host, former beauty queen
and winner of the 1990 Miss America
pageant.
Debbye Turner, raised in Jonesboro, Arkansas
, was first runner-up at the Miss Arkansas Pageant, a state preliminary competition for the Miss America program in 1988. In 1989, she won the Miss Missouri
title and went on to win the 1990 Miss America
crown. Turner was the third African-American national titleholder and the first Miss Missouri to be crowned Miss America.
Turner transferred from Arkansas State University
, and attended Columbia University in MO. In 1991, she received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Missouri
College of Veterinary Medicine. She became a spokesperson for Purina and pursued a career in veterinary medicine before going into television.
Turner's first hosting job came at St. Louis
' NBC
affiliate KSDK
, on a show called Show Me St. Louis in 1995. Six years later, Turner joined CBS News
as a reporter and contributor on The Early Show
, a position she still holds. Turner is also a fill-in anchor on the CBS Morning News
when Michelle Gielan is absent.
She has also appeared on Animal Planet
's Cats 101
and Dogs 101
series.
Turner is a singer, pianist
, and skilled percussionist, evidenced by her marimba rendition of '"Flight of the Bumblebee
"' in the talent portion of the 1990 Miss America contest. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha
sorority.
Debbye Turner's older sister, Suzette Turner, is married to Houston megachurch
pastor
Kirbyjon Caldwell
.
Veterinarian
A veterinary physician, colloquially called a vet, shortened from veterinarian or veterinary surgeon , is a professional who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals....
, talk show host, former beauty queen
Beauty Queen
"Beauty Queen" is the second song from Roxy Music's second album, For Your Pleasure. The lyrics refer to Ferry's girlfriend, Valerie Leon, one-time UK beauty queen, B-movie actress and model working in the Newcastle area, circa 1973.-Musicians:...
and winner of the 1990 Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
pageant.
Debbye Turner, raised in Jonesboro, Arkansas
Jonesboro, Arkansas
Jonesboro is a city in and one of the two county seats of Craighead County, Arkansas, United States. According to the 2010 US Census, the population of the city was 67,263. A college town, Jonesboro is the largest city in northeastern Arkansas and the fifth most populous city in the state...
, was first runner-up at the Miss Arkansas Pageant, a state preliminary competition for the Miss America program in 1988. In 1989, she won the Miss Missouri
Miss Missouri
The Miss Missouri competition is the pageant that selects the representative for the state of Missouri in the Miss America pageant.-History:From 1935 to 1970, the Miss Missouri pageant was held in a number of locations, including St. Louis, Kansas City, and Springfield.In 1970, the pageant was held...
title and went on to win the 1990 Miss America
Miss America
The Miss America pageant is a long-standing competition which awards scholarships to young women from the 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands...
crown. Turner was the third African-American national titleholder and the first Miss Missouri to be crowned Miss America.
Turner transferred from Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University
Arkansas State University is a public university and is the flagship campus of the Arkansas State University System, the state's second largest college system and third largest university by enrollment. It is located atop on Crowley's Ridge at Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA...
, and attended Columbia University in MO. In 1991, she received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
College of Veterinary Medicine. She became a spokesperson for Purina and pursued a career in veterinary medicine before going into television.
Turner's first hosting job came at St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
' NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
affiliate KSDK
KSDK
KSDK, Channel 5, is the NBC-affiliated television station in St. Louis, Missouri. KSDK is owned and operated by Gannett Company, and the station's transmitter is located in Marlborough, Missouri. The station broadcasts a digital signal on UHF channel 35, using its former analog channel assignment...
, on a show called Show Me St. Louis in 1995. Six years later, Turner joined CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
as a reporter and contributor on The Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
, a position she still holds. Turner is also a fill-in anchor on the CBS Morning News
CBS Morning News
For CBS's main morning news program, formerly known as CBS Morning News, see The Early Show.CBS Morning News is the half-hour daily television broadcast from CBS News that airs following Up to the Minute and features late-breaking news stories, weather forecasts, and sports scores...
when Michelle Gielan is absent.
She has also appeared on Animal Planet
Animal Planet
Animal Planet is an American cable tv specialty channel that launched on October 1, 1996. It is distributed by Discovery Communications. A high-definition simulcast of the channel launched on September 1, 2007.-History:...
's Cats 101
Cats 101
- Plot :Cats 101 features different cat breeds per episode, which feature many experts, ranging from veterinarians to animal trainers, telling facts, origins, and looks of the breeds. Cat owners of a specific breed also speak of life-changing events that revolve around their cats. It is shown on...
and Dogs 101
Dogs 101
Dogs 101 is a show that airs on Animal Planet. It is centered on Dogs and what they are like.- Plot :Dogs 101 features 6 breeds of dogs per episode. This show explains each breed of dog and features opinions by experts ranging from trainers to groomers to veterinarians...
series.
Turner is a singer, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, and skilled percussionist, evidenced by her marimba rendition of '"Flight of the Bumblebee
Flight of the Bumblebee
"Flight of the Bumblebee" is an orchestral interlude written by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov for his opera The Tale of Tsar Saltan, composed in 1899–1900. The piece closes Act III, Tableau 1, during which the magic Swan-Bird changes Prince Gvidon Saltanovich into an insect so that he can fly away to...
"' in the talent portion of the 1990 Miss America contest. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Kappa Alpha is the first Greek-lettered sorority established and incorporated by African American college women. The sorority was founded on January 15, 1908, at Howard University in Washington, D.C., by a group of nine students, led by Ethel Hedgeman Lyle...
sorority.
Debbye Turner's older sister, Suzette Turner, is married to Houston megachurch
Megachurch
A megachurch is a church having 2,000 or more in average weekend attendance. The Hartford Institute's database lists more than 1,300 such Protestant churches in the United States. According to that data, approximately 50 churches on the list have attendance ranging from 10,000 to 47,000...
pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
Kirbyjon Caldwell
Kirbyjon Caldwell
Kirbyjon H. Caldwell is the pastor of the Windsor Village United Methodist Church, a 14,000-member megachurch in Houston, Texas, United States. He was one of President George W. Bush's most influential spiritual advisors.- Background :...
.
External links
- Turner's official website
- Turner biography at The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History and Culture