The Game Goes On: Carrying Forward the Turner Spirit

If you spent time around Mohawk Trail Regional School or on a ball field in West County, chances are you knew a Turner. Doug Turner was the kind of person who showed up when someone needed a hand—raking fields, hauling equipment, or quietly helping a neighbor without being asked. His son, Zack, followed in those footsteps, often by his side in the early years and later leading the way himself. Whether they were cheering from the sidelines, organizing Little League seasons, or lending their energy to community events, both Doug and Zack had a gift for bringing people together and making everyone feel like they belonged. Together, they embodied the best of small-town life: showing up, pitching in, and caring deeply for others. 

When Doug passed away in 2003, his family and friends felt a strong need to keep his spirit alive in the community he helped shape. They turned their love and memories into action, creating a scholarship that honors his kindness, work ethic, and instinct to support others whenever it was needed most. They partnered with the Mary Lyon Foundation to bring that vision to life, ensuring Doug’s values would continue to inspire local students for generations to come. When Zack passed in 2025, it felt only right to bring his name into that legacy as well. Renamed the Zack and Doug Turner Memorial Scholarship, it now honors both father and son, two men whose lives were deeply rooted in community, whose laughter filled ball fields and kitchens alike, and whose steady acts of generosity continue to ripple through West County today. 

For the Turners, giving back was never about recognition; it was simply part of who they were. Doug and Zack shared a deep belief that community wasn’t something you just belonged to, but something you helped build every day. Doug’s steady kindness was evident in the way he ran his business, offered a helping hand, or stayed late to finish what needed doing. Zack carried that same spirit forward, bringing his father’s sense of service to every part of his life. You could find him on the field with neighborhood kids, at church serving dinner to neighbors, or behind the counter at the bowling alley, laughing with friends old and new. Wherever he was, he made people feel cared for and connected, his energy and generosity reflecting the example his father set. 

Those who knew them best say their love of sports was really a love of people. Family and friends often recall how Doug and Zack turned every game and practice into something bigger than just competition, making it a way to build community, share lessons, and spread joy. They believed that authentic leadership had nothing to do with being the loudest voice and everything to do with uplifting others and finding meaning in being part of something greater than oneself. Their legacy lives on far beyond the field, carried forward by the many hearts they touched. 

Through the Mary Lyon Foundation, the Turner family has ensured that their names—and the values they lived by—will continue to guide future generations. Every award given is not only a celebration of a student’s character, but a continuation of two lives lived with purpose and heart. 

If you ask the Turner family, the best way to remember Doug and Zack isn’t just by giving—it’s by doing. Donations to the Zack and Doug Turner Memorial Scholarship support their legacy, but it’s equally important to show support in everyday ways. Volunteer at a school event, cheer on a local team, or check in on a neighbor. That’s how they lived, and that’s how their spirit carries on. 

This scholarship ensures that Doug and Zack’s names are spoken with love and gratitude in the halls of Mohawk Trail and throughout West County. It encourages future generations to learn about their story and follow their example. Their laughter, kindness, and dedication continue to flow through this community, shaping lives and uniting people long after the final whistle and the last inning.