Frank S. Turner, first African American from Howard County to serve in the Maryland House of Delegates, dies
Frank S. Turner, the first African American from Howard County to serve in the Maryland House of Delegates who also taught business law at Morgan State University, died Feb. 14 at Howard County General Hospital. He was 70.
His wife Kimberlee Carter Turner said he died 'of a combination of medical issues.'
Born in Mount Pleasant, New York, he was the son of Frankie Lewis Turner, a police officer who served on the Raleigh, North Carolina, city council and Augusta Drinage, who kept the family home.
Mr. Turner was a 1968 graduate of North Carolina College at Durham, now North Carolina Central University, and earned a law degree from the North Carolina Central University School of Law.
His wife described him: 'Frank was quick-witted, funny and kind and was a loving husband and father.'
Mr. Turner moved to Maryland and became a professor of business law and legal environment in the Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management at Morgan State University. He was on the faculty from 1974 to 2015 and was then named a professor emeritus. He also owned several small businesses, including a Dunkin' donut franchise.
In 1986 he served as deputy campaign manager for Barbara A. Mikulski's initial run for the U.S. Senate. He was later her aide for small business.
'Frank had the ability to be soft spoken and to be outspoken at the same time,' said former Sen. Mikulski. 'I treasured our working relationship. He was a leader in civil rights and an advocate for people and for social justice. He knew everybody and was not shy about speaking the truth to power.'
Mr. Turner was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1994 and represented Howard County's 13th District. He left office in 2019.
While in Annapolis, Mr. Turner worked on personnel oversight, education, economic development, juvenile justice and gaming. He also served as House Chair of the Howard County Delegation.
Mr. Turner said he personally did not care for casino gambling, but on a legislative tour to Pennsylvania and Delaware, he observed numerous Maryland license plates. As a result, he reluctantly backed Maryland casino wagering.
When Mr. Turner announced that he would not seek reelection, he said, 'I feel as though sometimes that I've probably done as much as I can do in this particular job. I feel a lot of satisfaction about what I've accomplished, but I also feel that for me there's another mountain out there that I need to climb, and I feel as though for the most part that I've climbed this mountain.'
In 2014 the ballfields at Columbia's Blandair Park were dedicated in his name.
'Frank has been a longtime supporter of recreation and quality of life in Howard County,' the County Executive Ken Ulman said at the time in an article in The Baltimore Sun. 'This is a fitting tribute to someone who has dedicated his life to making Columbia a better place to live.'
Gov. Larry Hogan named Mr. Turner to the Howard County Community College board in 2019. His appointment was reconfirmed by Gov. Wes Moore last year.
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'In a long list of iconic community leaders who have committed their time, their knowledge, and their resources in service of Howard Community College and its students, few outpace the impact of Del. Turner,' said Daria J. Willis, Howard Community College president. 'His love for and his faith in this institution were apparent in his work, his conversation, his giving, and in his advocacy.'
He was a donor to the Howard Community College Educational Foundation. In 2018 he received the Howard Community College Legacy of Service award.
Mr. Turner was an avid basketball, baseball and football fan. He also played golf and basketball as an adult.
A celebration of life will be held from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on March 16 at the Horowitz Center, Howard Community College, Campus Drive in Columbia.
Survivors include his wife of 22 years, Kimberlee Carter Turner; five sons, Frank S. Turner II, of North Laurel, Terrence Turner, of Laurel, Brandon Harris, of Columbia, Travis Turner, of Columbia and Harold Cogdell, of Charlotte, North Carolina; two brothers, Francis Turner, of Columbia, and John Turner, of Columbia, South Carolina; a sister, Augusta Turner, of Raleigh, North Carolina; and three grandchildren.
Have a news tip? Contact Jacques Kelly at jacques.kelly@baltsun.com and 410-332-6570.
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