Cal Turner

Cal Turner, a trustee since 1995, received his B.A., cum laude, from Vanderbilt University in 1962. Following his graduation from Vanderbilt, Mr. Turner served for more than three years as an officer in the United States Navy. In December 1965, he began his career at Dollar General, the company founded by his father and grandfather in 1939. He succeeded his father as president in 1977 and as chairman in 1988. At the time of his retirement in 2003, Dollar General had grown into a New York Stock Exchange retailer with more than 6,000 stores in 27 states and annual sales in excess of $6 billion.

Literacy and education are causes of great importance to Mr. Turner. Mr. Turner’s keen interest in education is closely associated with Vanderbilt, as well as Kentucky-based Lindsey Wilson College, where he formerly served as chairman. n September 29, 1988, he accepted the Presidential Award for Private Sector Initiatives from President Ronald Reagan at a White House ceremony, for Dollar General’s work in literacy and GED preparedness programs.

Mr. Turner has served on the boards of a number of civic and charitable organizations, including the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, where he was chairman of the Board of Governors from 2000 – 2001, and the YMCA of Middle Tennessee, where he currently serves as chairman.

In 1997, he received the Alexis de Tocqueville Society Volunteer of the Year Award from the United Way of Middle Tennessee, and, in 1998, he received the Vanderbilt Distinguished Alumnus Award. In 2002, Meharry Medical College presented Mr. Turner with the school’s prestigious Salt Wagon Award, given for acts of kindness and commitment to Meharry Medical College and its mission.

He and his wife Margaret are the parents of Cal Turner III, who, with his wife, Hope, are the parents of Cal Turner IV, Alex Turner and Will Turner.