First Athletics Director | 1948–81
Ed Turner founded the Roosevelt athletics department and personally coached basketball, bowling, soccer, softball, track, tennis and golf. He also taught a physical education class. At the time, he was the only black coach of an integrated college basketball team in the country. “I don’t put any limit on doing things. That’s my philosophy in life,” Turner told New York Times sportswriter Ira Berkow, who played for Roosevelt in the 1950s.
During her 100th birthday celebration, Ed’s wife and University librarian Gladys made the first donation to the Edwin and Gladys Turner Scholarship Fund for student-athletes.