Bert Sigler Turner, Allen-Beauregard Parish Louisiana
Submitted by Dortha Cummins
Date: July 2008

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Bert Silger Turner
Bert Silger Turner, founder and chairman emeritus of Turner 
Industries, died peacefully at his home in Baton Rouge on 
Thursday, July 17, 2008. He was born in Elizabeth, in Allen 
Parish, on Nov. 2, 1921. 

Visitation at St. Aloysius Parish Hall, 2025 Stuart Ave., on 
Sunday, July 20, was from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visitation resumes 
on Monday from 9 a.m. until Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 
a.m., with the Rev. Jeff Bayhi, celebrant, followed by burial in 
Roselawn Memorial Park. 

Turner is survived by his wife of 60 years, the former Suzanne 
Pauline Wilbert, of Plaquemine; their five children and their 
spouses and partners, Suzanne Turner and Scott Purdin, Robert 
Turner and Peter Speliopoulos, Mary Margaret "Moo" and Martin 
Svendson, Thomas and Sari Turner, and John Turner and Jerry 
Fischer. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Robert 
Svendson, Jeanne Svendson, Wade Svendson, Amanda Purdin, Sydney 
Turner and Austen Turner; as well as cousin Caroline Hebb and
the family of W.L. McDermott. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret and 
Grover Cleveland Turner. 

Pallbearers will be Jerry Fischer, Scott Purdin, Peter 
Speliopoulos, Martin Svendson, Robert Svendson and Wade 
Svendson. Honorary pallbearers are William Cocreham, David 
Walker, William H. Wright, William L. Jenkins, Roland Toups, 
Allan Brent, Paul Arst, Don McCollister, David J. Lauve, Robert 
Pearson, J.L. Billy Guitreau, Les Griffon and Brian Stagg. 

Turner grew up in rural Missouri and returned to Louisiana to 
attend LSU with a scholarship as a baritone bugle player in the 
marching band. He also served as cadet colonel of the Engineers 
Regiment. He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering 
in 1943, having served as president of the College of 
Engineering Student Council, and was a member of Omicron 
Delta Kappa. Turner was also a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon.
He served as battalion commander in the U. S. Army Corps of 
Engineers during World War II, much of it in Southeast Asia, 
carving roads through the jungle and repairing bombed airstrips. 
He worked for Standard Oil and continued his education thanks to 
the GI Bill and a Standard Oil Teagle scholarship, graduating 
with distinction from the Harvard School of Business 
Administration in 1949. He began his career in the construction 
industry with Nichols Construction Co., eventually becoming 
president. His industrial contracting business evolved into 
Turner Industries Ltd. Turner always credited his management 
team and employees with his company's success. He had a long 
career of community service, and as a young man was president of 
the Baton Rouge Jaycees, president of the Board of Control of 
the East Baton Rouge Parish Library and chairman of the Civic 
Improvement Committee of the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce. He 
was one of the initiators of fund development for Magnolia Mound 
Plantation and the Louisiana Arts and Science Center. He was 
particularly committed to improving higher education for the 
state, and served on the Louisiana Board of Regents, and as 
chairman of both the LSU Board of Supervisors and the LSU 
Foundation Board. In 1996, he was awarded an honorary doctorate 
of science from LSU. In 2003, he was named LSU Alumni of the 
Year. In 2002, Turner was named an LPB Louisiana Legend. 

The family is grateful to Judy Harris, Alfred Williams, Melvin 
Andrews and Kevin Richard of Turner Industries for their loyal 
and caring support, to William Harris for his faithful service, 
and to the many caregivers who attended him during his illness, 
particularly Theresa Leuschner. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the LSU Foundation, 
College of Engineering or School of Landscape Architecture, St. 
Aloysius Catholic Church, United Way, Pennington Biomedical 
Foundation or the Baton Rouge Area Foundation.

Published in The Advocate.com from July 18 to July 21, 2008