Jerry Turner (anchorman)
Encyclopedia
Jerry Turner was an American
television news anchorman at WJZ-TV
in Baltimore, Maryland. He was from Meridian, Mississippi
and started working at the Baltimore television station in 1962, starting the 6PM Newscast With Al Sanders
in 1977.
Prior to his arrival on Television Hill
, WJZ's news was mired in third place in a town that had three major network newscasts. In 1971, WBAL-TV
was #1, WMAR-TV
was #2, three years later, WJZ with Turner, Sanders
, Bob Turk (weather) and Nick Charles
(Sports) were a runaway #1 and stayed there through the 70s and into the 80s.
Turner was a co-anchor with Oprah Winfrey
when she first moved to Baltimore. Winfrey has described Turner as condescending and hostile towards her.
, Turner died from esophageal cancer
at the Johns Hopkins Hospital
in Baltimore on December 31, 1987, 7:15 PM. His funeral was held at Towson Presbyterian Church.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television news anchorman at WJZ-TV
WJZ-TV
WJZ-TV, channel 13, is an owned and operated television station of the CBS Television Network, located in Baltimore, Maryland. WJZ-TV's studios and offices are located on Television Hill in the Woodberry section of Baltimore, adjacent to the transmission tower it shares with four other Baltimore...
in Baltimore, Maryland. He was from Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
and started working at the Baltimore television station in 1962, starting the 6PM Newscast With Al Sanders
Al Sanders
Al Sanders , was an American, award winning, television news anchorman at WJZ-TV in Baltimore, Maryland. He helped take a third place television newscast to first place, where it stayed throughout his career.-Background:...
in 1977.
Prior to his arrival on Television Hill
Television Hill
"Boldly distinguishable from the mass of Americana out there." -Wire MagazineTelevision Hill is an American folk-rock band from Baltimore, Maryland. They are heavily influenced by American folk music as well as many other traditional music forms...
, WJZ's news was mired in third place in a town that had three major network newscasts. In 1971, WBAL-TV
WBAL-TV
WBAL-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station in Baltimore, Maryland. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 11. It is one of the flagship stations of Hearst Television, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation, which also owns sister radio stations WBAL and...
was #1, WMAR-TV
WMAR-TV
WMAR-TV, channel 2, is the ABC affiliate television station in Baltimore, Maryland, owned by the broadcasting division of the E.W. Scripps Company...
was #2, three years later, WJZ with Turner, Sanders
Al Sanders
Al Sanders , was an American, award winning, television news anchorman at WJZ-TV in Baltimore, Maryland. He helped take a third place television newscast to first place, where it stayed throughout his career.-Background:...
, Bob Turk (weather) and Nick Charles
Nick Charles
Nicholas Charles Nickeas , better known as Nick Charles, was an American sportscaster and journalist. He was one of CNN's first on-air personalities and won three CableACE Awards for best sports program during his 17-year tenure as co-host of the network's Sports Tonight...
(Sports) were a runaway #1 and stayed there through the 70s and into the 80s.
Turner was a co-anchor with Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
when she first moved to Baltimore. Winfrey has described Turner as condescending and hostile towards her.
Death
A resident of Lutherville, MarylandLutherville-Timonium, Maryland
Lutherville-Timonium is a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland made up of the unincorporated communities of Lutherville and Timonium. The population was 15,814 as of the 2000 census. Within its borders lies the Lutherville Historic District...
, Turner died from esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes, primarily squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma . Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus...
at the Johns Hopkins Hospital
Johns Hopkins Hospital
The Johns Hopkins Hospital is the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, Maryland . It was founded using money from a bequest by philanthropist Johns Hopkins...
in Baltimore on December 31, 1987, 7:15 PM. His funeral was held at Towson Presbyterian Church.