Page 18 - Senior Link Magazine Spring 2024 - Online Magazine

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Senior
Senior

Mary Lou Turner

The “Queen”

of Lubbock

by Caroline Paine

legance and class are the first graduated with
words that come to mind a PHT.” If you're
Ewhen I think of my great- not familiar with a PHT,
grandmother, Mary Lou Turner. it stands for “Putting Him
In fact, my family regularly refers Through,” which was a
to her as “the Queen.” Mary Lou common occurrence at
Turner was born in Gatesville, that time for wives to
Texas on August 10, 1931. During give precedence to their
her senior year of high school, husband’s education over
one of her family members, who their own.
lived in Lubbock, took ill, and
consequently, she and her family In 1961, Moe Turner
moved to Lubbock in 1948. For the founded his own
rest of her senior year, she attended construction company, M.
Lubbock High School where she W. Turner Construction.
met Morris (Moe) Wayne Turner. Throughout his career,
Mary Lou was constantly
After graduating, Moe Turner involved in his business, to the Lubbock City Council as a
was recruited to the Texas Tech helping to keep books and councilman, and in 1972, he was
football team as their quarterback. do the payroll. Outside of the elected mayor, making Mary Lou
In December of 1950, Moe and business, Mary Lou was also the First Lady of Lubbock. On
Mary Lou married, and not long heavily involved in the Lubbock May 11, 1970, a powerful tornado
after, Mary Lou was expecting community, serving as the struck downtown Lubbock,
the first of their three children. Women’s Club President and killing 26 people, and devastating
After graduating from Tech with a Treasurer of the Monday Study much of the downtown area. As
degree in business, Moe joined the Club. Mary Lou was also President her husband tended to council
United States Air Force. of the Women’s Division of responsibilities in the days
Lubbock’s Chamber of Commerce. following this tragedy, Mary
I asked Mary Lou if she graduated Lou also leapt into action. Not
from Tech, and she replied, “I In 1968, Moe Turner was elected considering her position too lofty,

18 Lubbock Senior Link