Ralph Turlington

Who is Ralph Turlington?

Ralph Donald Turlington, Sr. is a retired politician from the U.S. state of Florida.

Turlington was born in Gainesville in 1920. He attended the University of Florida to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree in business and Harvard University for this masters' degree in the same field. After completing his education, Turlington served in World War II and the Korean War. After the war, he worked at the University of Florida. In 1947, he became a faculty member of Alpha Kappa Psi Professional Business Fraternity. He received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Florida in 1968.

He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1950 for Alachua County. He would serve until 1974, eventually also serving as speaker from 1967 to 1969. He was the Florida Commissioner of Education from 1974 to 1987. Following his service as Commissioner of Education, Turlington joined the American College Testing Program and served full-time as a consultant to long time friend Dr. James W. Carr.

Turlington was married to Ann Gellerstedt and has two children, Donald and Katherine.

A facility at the University of Florida, Ralph D. Turlington Hall is named after him.