Robert L. Turner
For his outstanding achievement and leadership in construction engineering and civic life, the Schools of Engineering are proud to present the Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award to Robert L. Turner.
Mr. Turner is the founder and chairman of the board of the R. L. Turner Corporation, a general contracting and construction firm located in Zionsville, Indiana. He received his bachelor s degree in civil engineering from Purdue in 1963.
After serving in the Navy and working as a civilian field engineer, Mr. Turner invested $1,000 to start the R. L. Turner Corporation for industrial and institutional construction. Twenty-five years later, his company now employs almost 150 people, has annual revenues exceeding $50 million, and has received the Associated Builders and Contractors State of Indiana Award of Excellence nine times.
Mr. Turner is a national leader and tireless advocate in promoting and establishing continuing education for construction engineers. As president of the Associated Builders and Contractors, he oversaw the start of the National Center for Construction Education and its craft training program. In 1990, he was national president of the Construction Industry Workforce Foundation.
Mr. Turner has also raised the standard for construction safety. He was a charter member of the Metropolitan Indianapolis Construction Coalition for Construction Safety. Under his influence, the R. L. Turner Corporation has been an award-winning leader in construction safety.