USA Today

 

Ted Turner Was an American Original 

By Ras H. Siddiqui
Sacramento, CA

American business and journalism icon Ted Turner passed away at the age of eighty-seven. He left this world on May 6, 2026, after a larger-than-life presence, leaving behind a rich legacy. A real trailblazer, one who left his imprint on many ventures especially in the media including Turner Network Television, CNN Headline News, CNN International, the Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies, to name a few. His impact on this country and globally as a media mogul just cannot be ignored and it will be lasting. This short remembrance shares a chance encounter too.

Not always popular for being too outspoken (nicknamed “The Mouth of the South”), Turner remained well respected. He was as American as one could be, at least in the eyes of this writer who arrived in this country over 50 years ago. Turner excelled in both business and philanthropy. There are not too many individuals who have pledged a billion dollars or more to the United Nations which he did in 1997. And he also made a name for himself in the world of sports both as a participant  (winning yachting’s America’s Cup in1977) or as an owner (his Atlanta Braves baseball team won the 1995 World Series). He liked to win and was not afraid of losing at anything he ventured out to accomplish.

We baby boomers are from the generation which has viewed television via rabbit ears (sometimes wrapped in aluminum foil), rooftop antennas, cable, satellite access, and now via fast internet. We can deeply appreciate some of Ted Turner’s many contributions here, especially in the evolution of broadcasting and of shows which now travel with us for viewing on our smartphones. He pioneered 24-hour TV news, something which was scoffed at when it was proposed. Today, all major news networks broadcast round the clock news, and that offering is not restricted to America alone, it is global. Ted Turner was not just a man of ideas but one who succeeded in implementing them. And he certainly possessed an entrepreneurial spirit.

Speaking of entrepreneurship, the news of Ted Turner’s passing reminded me of a conference which I attended in the early or mid-2000s. A group of South Asians had formed an organization which they named The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) in the 1990s which is still quite active and thriving today. TiE Silicon Valley continues to hold its annual conference   named TiEcon and draws entrepreneurs from all over the globe seeking to sell their infant ideas and to seek startup funding. It is a very high-profile event in which some of the most successful people in the world of business are also invited to deliver keynote speeches, to inspire those who are starting out.

Being young and energetic in those days, I too attended TiEcon in Santa Clara, California numerous times, to see and get a feel for how the technology business works and to write about it. It was during a TiEcon offshoot event that I had a chance encounter with Ted Turner who was a man in a hurry. I was near the back entrance of the venue in Santa Clara (near current Levis Stadium) when a tall man accompanied by a striking lady came hurriedly towards me and asked where the restroom was. As I looked up, there stood Ted Turner. Since I had myself just used the “facilities” nearby, his was an easy question to answer and I guided him there quickly and he rushed in.

The lady accompanying him waited outside with me and a couple of other people (If it had been Jane Fonda, I would have been totally floored, but they had split up by then). We waited till Ted came out looking quite relieved. And he not only acknowledged me again but thanked me. That was my one run in with a billionaire, one who showed no arrogance and was polite. It is just too bad that smartphones were not around in those days because I would have at least tried to get a selfie with him.

I have shared this one short brush with potential fame over the years with family and friends. Ted Turner’s keynote speech at the event was a memorable one. He shared his experience of creating a company, merging with another, then losing control of it (and being shown the door) only to venture into something else and never give up. His penchant for sharing his one liner wisdom was quite impactful there too.

Turner remained a mover and shaker till being diagnosed with Lewy body dementia (LBD) in 2018. His legacy as a huge landowner and environmentalist will often be revisited too. This includes efforts to save and reinvigorate the American Bison herds. Close to the end of his keynote at the event his use of one line somehow remains in my memory banks and fits his personality quite well. He said that it was better to be a has been, than a never was. Ted Turner was an American original. May he rest in peace.

(Ted Turner himself visited the city of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir in December 2005 to show his support and concern for earthquake victims there)