Ronnie Turner
Jack J. Valenti School of Communication
Print Journalism Major

Always the bookworm growing up, Ronnie Turner had little interest in sports. He didn’t realize then what an impact sports would play in his future.

It wasn’t until he entered Jack Yates High School that he decided to see what all the fuss was about. During his freshman year, he tried his hand at about every sport and found he loved playing baseball.

About the same time, Turner found another love – journalism.

He began writing for the school newspaper, and by his sophomore year he was a full-fledged sports reporter and then became sports editor – a position he would hold for the majority of his high school career.

The summer before his senior year, he spent a month at the Houston Chronicle’s summer journalism workshop.

“I was immersed in the world of journalism,” he said. “It was enough to make me give up any fancy notions to become a lawyer. I was a writer by nature and a sports fan. This career allowed me to combine both of them.”

Turner won three scholarships the Chronicle offered and also was offered a part-time job working in the online sports department.

“So far, these last four years have been the greatest of my life,” he said.

Turner is studying journalism at UH’s Jack J. Valenti School of Communication with hopes of getting a full-time job as a sports reporter when he graduates.

Turner was recently in the spotlight for an interview he did with Quentin Mease, whose name graces a hospital in the Third Ward and who was instrumental in the days of Houston’s desegregation.

A movie shown in Turner’s political science class discussed the Houston Astrodome and the role Mease played in securing support from the black community for a bond vote to approve construction – a vote narrowly won. The support was on condition that the finished Dome and games be desegregated. Turner, who had followed the Astros for many years and written about them as well, was surprised at this historical nugget and surprised the information was reduced to a mere footnote. He wanted to find Mease and learn more about his life and work. He found Mease living near the UH campus, and in his garage was treasure trove of Houston history.

The story caught the interest of producers for the HDNet program “Dan Rather Reports,” who included Mease and Turner in a segment on race in America. Turner has used his research to write a report for his UH Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship. He also will use the wealth of information to write his Honors College thesis and for a presentation to the East Texas Historical Association.