STAN TURNER

From the February 6, 1980 issue of the St. Louis Park Echo:

News broadcaster Stan Turner traces his history back to Park
By Mark Simon

While thousands of students have departed from the halls of St. Louis Park High School with diploma in hand and head held high, only a handful have been in the public’s eye. One of these illustrious few is Stan Turner, Eyewitness News anchorman.
 

Turner noted that during his high school y ears two teachers, Richard Russell and Russell Christensen, were excellent instructors and an inspiration to him. He added that as a pupil he was not heavily involved in extra-curricular activities.

“I worked on grades,” he said.

After graduating from Park in 1962, Turner turned his endeavors to college, majoring in broadcast journalism and minoring in German. These were not his original intentions, however.

“With all undue modesty I was first clarinet in the Concert Band. It was my desire to progress to a symphonic orchestra in the future.”

This changed when Turner introduced himself to a radio personality. According to the anchorman, his friend opened a window to his future.

After college, Turner was hired by KDWB radio, and in 1968 he went to work for KSTP as a reporter and later on as an anchorman.

“I think reporting is what I like best. It gives you a front row seat to some very interesting happenings.”

According to Turner, becoming a journalist takes some doing.

“I know it sounds like a cliché, but hard work, luck and timing are essential. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of a good liberal arts background,” said Turner. He added, “The education doesn’t stop, it can’t. One minute you may be covering a fire and the next be in the governor’s mansion interviewing the governor. It is helpful to know something about everything.”


Growing up in St. Louis Park, Stan Turner lived at 1425 Kentucky Ave.