Savannah State Athletics

SAVANNAH, Ga.- The Savannah State University athletic department received a financial donation from the Tompkins-Woodville Athletic Hall of Fame Association in a ceremony at Tiger Arena.

SSU received a check for $6,000 that will be used for four football scholarships.

The group presented the check in honor of the late Joseph Turner, a former coach at Woodville High School and Tompkins High School.

Turner coached at Woodville (now Tompkins High) from 1960-80. He was named Georgia High School "Coach of the Year" seven times in a career that featured a won-loss record of 204-101-4 in the high school ranks.

A three-sport athlete (football, basketball and track) at Savannah State, the New Orleans, Louisiana native, was All – SEAC in football at offensive end (1950 – 1951; 1951 – 1952); and All – SEAC in track from 1948 – 1952. He was a member of the first varsity track and field team developed at Savannah State University in 1949. He also served as head men’s track and field coach at Savannah State from 1983 – 1989. He won races at the Drake Relays, Alabama State Relays, and Tuskegee Relays as a champion quarter miler, mile relay runner, and the 880 yard relay as a student - athlete.

Rev. Chester Ellis, a former SSU athlete and assistant football coach, said that Turner was a mentor to him and the rest of the members of the group.

“It’s our way of showing what he instilled in us”, said Ellis.

Interim SSU athletics director Marilynn Suggs stated the athletics department is extremely happy about the continued strengthening of this and other local relationships. “It is significantly important that the local community is involved in contributing to student-athlete academic and athletic success.”