Career
He was one of the most popular players on the, the pre-National Football League version of the Canton Bulldogs who played in the Ohio League. The team"s center, Turner played with the Pros from around 1911 until his death in 1914. By 1911 Turner became the captain of the Professionals.
At this time a rivalry existed between the team and Peggy Parratt, the captain of Shelby Blues.
Parratt, prior to joining Shelby Blues, was the captain of the hated Massillon Tigers, the top rival for Canton. During a game in 1911, Turner pulled his entire team from the field to protest a referees call in favor of the Akron Indians.
In a post-game statement, Turner told the Canton Repository, "Right or wrong, no more football for me after this. These old football duds, mud and dirt, go up to the attic to rot.
I"m done!" He made his vow to quit pro football on November 26, 1911.
However Turner returned to the gridiron for the next three seasons. He continued to play for the Pros and kept up the rivalry with Parratt. However tragedy struck near the end the 1914 season when Turner was severely injured during a game against Parratt and the Akron Indians.
While making a tackle on Akron"s Joe Collins, Turner"s back was fractured and his spinal cord was completely severed.
The death of Turner was taken hard by the team lieutenant was the first fatal accident involving a major professional football team in Ohio.
The Professionals easily lost a rematch to the Indians a few days later.
