The place where retired U.S. Army Brigadier General C. David Turner once played football as a boy has a brand new name and new significance.
In late August, the City of Rock Hill’s Greenwood Park – located between Lithia and Eldridge avenues – was renamed Brigadier General C. David Turner Park. The renaming took place during a ceremony attended by approximately 200 Rock Hill and Webster Groves’ community members, as well as Turner’s family and friends.
“The last park renamed in the City of Rock Hill was Whitfield Park, named in honor of the previous Mayor Kennard Whitfield,” said 1st Ward Alderman Ed Johnson. Whitfield served as mayor 1994-2002.
Johnson recommended the new handle for Greenwood Park in February and brought it to the City Council for a vote.
“The renaming of the park means recognition of cultural diversity, educational and professional accomplishments and its connection to our neighborhood, community and region,” Johnson said.
Turner – president of American Water Military Services Group and former commander of the South Atlantic region of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – said, “There are no words that can describe how having a park named after you feels. It really just takes your breath away.”
The program officially opened and closed with Turner’s sister, U.S. Army Chaplain Cynthia Turner, standing behind her big brother, praying.
“We’re thankful, Father, for what has happened, and we ask this question just as the psalmist asked, ‘Who are we, that you are mindful of us?'” she prayed.
The American flag was saluted and allegiance was sworn to the United States of America. The Fort Leonard Wood Band played the national anthem and the U.S. Army Engineer song.
Mayor Edward Mahan said that he and Turner have a long history together, which started in Boy Scouts as children. Mahan explained that he referred to the brigadier general as “David” because that is how he knows him.
“One of the sayings says, ‘Give me my flowers, while I can yet smell them, so that I can see the beauty that they bring,’” Mahan said. “So I am so honored that we didn’t have to wait until David made transition and that he was able to see that we named something after him, a true Rock Hill resident and a Webster Statesman.”
U.S. Rep. Tom Rice (R-South Carolina) spoke about Turner’s efficacy and ability to generate results.
“This is a very, very special man,” Rice said. “He helped me accomplish infrastructure permits that had been denied in my district for decades over silliness. This man cut through all that and made it happen.”
Besides the mayor and congressman, other national and local politicians gave remarks in person or by letter. Members of the National Society of Black Engineers, current and former administrators from the Webster Groves School District and representatives from the Boy Scouts of America attended the ceremony.
Rosemary Turner – a slight woman with fine white curly hair seated in the front row – held back tears during the program in honor of her son. Still a Rock Hill resident, now she can stand on her front porch, look across the street and smile as she looks down on a park named for her son.
“I just can’t describe it,” she said. “I knew it was coming, but I just didn’t know there would be this many people.”
