The Rev. Paul W. Turner 1923-1980

The Rev. Paul W. Turner 1923-1980 is a Tennessee historical marker in Anderson County.

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Upset by segregationists who intimidated 12 African American pupils at Clinton High School who refused to return to classes, the Reverend Paul Turner, pastor of Clinton's First Baptist Church, met with the pupils on December 4. 1956, when he and two other men from Clinton, escorted six African American students to Clinton High School. Segregationists beat Turner as he walked away. In August, Clinton became the first Tennessee state-funded public school to desegregate. Rev. Turner's courageous walk enabled Bobby Cain, one of the "Clinton 12", to become the first African American to graduate from Clinton High School on May 17, 1957.

TodayHistorical map

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David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries

Historical maps covering this location

1796 · Map of The Tennassee (sic) Government. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1893 · Briceville, Tennessee (USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection)
1895 · Gen. map VII. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1895 · Briceville, Tennessee (USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection)
1896 · Briceville, Tennessee (USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection)

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Marker text and location from the Tennessee Historical Commission, as the Commission publishes them on its marker map.

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