By Doug Ferber
Gerald Turner, SMU’s longest-serving president, has decided to step down from his role after three decades of leading the Mustangs. Dr. Turner will take on the position of President Emeritus at the end of the 2024-25 academic year. We will remember Dr. Turner for leading Southern Methodist University through exponential growth and multiple fundraising efforts for student scholarships, building upgrades and endowed faculty positions. And we can’t forget about Dr. Turner’s efforts to land the George W. Bush Presidential Center and to build a $2 billion endowment. Under his leadership, the university bolstered its academic distinction and rebuilt its football program from the depths of the “death penalty” in the 1980’s. After hearing about his “career pivot” I thought it would be a great opportunity to recognize his accomplishments. I am grateful that he has allowed me to ask him a few questions so Park Cities residents can get to know he and his wife Gail a little better.
Where are you from?
I was born in Atlanta, Texas, but grew up in New Boston, Texas, which is 20 miles west of Texarkana.
Where did you meet your wife?
Gail and I began dating while we were students at Abilene Christian University.
Do you have children? Did they attend SMU?
We have two daughters. Angela and her husband, Michael, who is a Dedman Law graduate, have two sons. Jessica, who graduated from SMU in 1999, and her husband, Jeff, have three daughters.
Mrs. Turner, what are your favorite family memories associated with your time at SMU?
There are so many over these 30 years. Our daughter Jessica received her BFA from SMU in 1999, and she and Jeff Waugh were married in Perkins Chapel in 2002. Our daughter Angela’s husband, Michael Wilson, received his J.D. degree from Dedman Law in 1997, and Angela sang “God Bless America” at the opening of The Bush Library in 2013. We always enjoyed the opportunity to allow some of our five grandchildren to ride many times with us in the Park Cities Fourth of July Parade and in most of the SMU Homecoming Parades.
Favorite vacation destination for you and your wife?
Gail and I both enjoy going to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, whenever we have the opportunity.
Favorite hobby? What do you like to do in your spare time?
Gail and I enjoy playing golf together when we have the opportunity.
Favorite quote?
“In difficult situations, anyone can lose his temper. It takes maturity to stay calm and find a solution.” ~ Quote from R. B. Turner, my dad and a junior high principal
Where did you attend college?
I received an Associate’s Degree from Lubbock Christian University, Baccalaureate Degree at Abilene Christ University, and Masters and Doctorate Degrees at University of Texas at Austin.
When did you come to SMU?
June 1995
What attracted you to leave Ole Miss and come to SMU?
Although we enjoyed our 11 years at Ole Miss, we are both from Texas and grew up admiring both SMU and Dallas. Therefore, the opportunity to work with the SMU community while living in the Park Cities and Dallas were great attractions to us.
What were your major priorities upon arriving at SMU?
The Board of Trustees basically identified three priorities for the administration: 1. Increase the national visibility of SMU; 2. Increase the academic quality of the student body and faculty; 3. Strengthen the relationship between the University and the city of Dallas.
What has been your highest accomplishment as president of the university?
Whatever individual projects might be identified, the success of this era has been based upon the close working relationship that we have had with the Board of Trustees. We have always been on the same page as to what is best for the present and future of the University, which has been the foundation of its development over these years.
How important has the Bush presidential library been to SMU?
The location of the Bush Presidential Center at SMU has been incredibly important. The dedication of the Bush Center in 2013 drew five living presidents to our campus, which was a remarkable moment in the life of the University. The many national and international leaders who come to campus and are available for public events, the presence of President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush regularly on our campus, and the many projects and programs at the Bush Center allow our students to have internships and other service opportunities that truly broaden their experience as SMU students.
You brought high-profile, competitive sports “back” to SMU…how important is this to the success of the school?
We’re thrilled about this move to the Atlantic Coast Conference and the opportunities it brings. Intercollegiate athletics is an American university phenomenon not mirrored in any other major country in the world. Americans, by nature, are competitive, and it should not be a surprise that by the late 1800’s competition between student bodies in various areas began. With the structure of intercollegiate athletics in the United States becoming more and more stratified, it was very important for us to be a member of one of the four major conferences. Our success in our first year in the ACC has truly energized the SMU community both on and off campus with university-wide benefits. Our emergence as a strong player in this conference has raised our national profile, and we’ve already seen a very large increase in the number of applications for the first-year class for next year.
You created a close alignment between SMU and the city of Dallas…what inspired this focus and, in your opinion, has it worked?
Every great city has a great university, and we are committed to being that university for Dallas. SMU was founded more than 100 years ago upon the joint efforts of business and civic leaders in Dallas and leaders within the United Methodist Church. We have worked to reignite the sense of ownership in SMU as “Dallas’ University” as a reaffirmation of our origin. More than 70 percent of our graduates, including out-of-state students, find employment in the Dallas region. The support of SMU artistic, cultural, and athletic programs, the creation of countless internships within the city, and the recruitment and employment of SMU students to stay in Dallas for the benefit of its business, educational, and cultural sectors have all underscored the success of the relationship between SMU and Dallas.
What is your vision for the future of SMU?
We can look forward to many major advances in the future of the University. The continued ascendance in academic rankings of the University and its individual schools and our anticipated achievement of Carnegie Foundation R1 status will highlight the strength of our graduate and research programs. This prestigious designation will enhance our ability to attract researchers from all parts of the country as we grow our ability to find solutions to some of the world’s pressing problems. A second major focus will be to more fully support students of all backgrounds through more merit scholarships, because we want to empower outstanding students to attend SMU regardless of financial means.
What has living in the Park Cities community meant to you and Mrs. Turner?
Gail and I have thoroughly enjoyed living in University Park. We try to be supportive of the Highland Park School District and many of the business, religious, and cultural institutions within the Park Cities. It’s simply a great place to live.
The Boulevard is a big hit…has it been more successful than the Grove at Ole Miss?
When we arrived in 1995, SMU was playing football games back in the Cotton Bowl, with the campus receiving little benefit from having home football games. The construction of Ford Stadium on our campus, hosting SMU football for the first time back in September 2000, was a crucial first step. We knew that having these games on the campus would provide opportunities to deepen the ties of alumni and friends with the University and help in the recruitment of students who visit the campus on such a weekend. Soon after we arrived in Dallas, we took some SMU alumni to an Ole Miss game to show them The Grove and how it was such a major benefit to Ole Miss. I had already decided that the entire Bishop Boulevard greenspace – from where it began past the Highland Park United Methodist Church up to the Flagpole at the northern end – would be a great area for tailgating. There were various names suggested, but I felt like having a simple name descriptive of the area, just as The Grove was at Ole Miss, would be most appropriate; therefore, “The Boulevard” became its official name. To say that it has been a major success would be an understatement.
What is your favorite SMU tradition?
The Boulevard and the Celebration of Lights that we host for our SMU community and our neighbors each Christmas season are certainly two of my favorite SMU traditions.