Turrentines' success leads to $1 million
endowment for lower-income students

OU alumni Dr. James and Regina Turrentine of Ardmore are providing scholarship funds to lower-income students from Stigler, Ardmore and surrounding counties through a recent gift.

Dr. James and Regina Turrentine headed to Norman from their hometown of Stigler, Okla., in 1960 “without a dime in our pockets and in an old car.” The high school sweethearts-turned-newlyweds were about to enroll at the University of Oklahoma. Little did they know that 63 years later, they’d be in a position to endow a $1 million scholarship fund.

Through their gift to the OU Foundation, the Turrentines have established the Dr. James R. Turrentine and Regina Turrentine Endowed Scholarship for lower-income, scholarly students, with a preference for those from Stigler, Ardmore and surrounding counties.

“We are both thrilled and humbled by the generosity of the Turrentine family,” said Jeff Blahnik, vice president for OU’s Division of Enrollment Management. “This incredible gift will allow incoming freshmen from these high schools to understand immediately that their goals for a world-class educational experience at OU are possible. We could not be more grateful to Dr. and Mrs. Turrentine for this partnership and gift.”

In high school, Regina Turrentine served as class valedictorian, and James Turrentine was class president. “We had supportive teachers and received encouragement from our school family,” she said.

James earned a 1963 OU Bachelor of Pharmacy degree with honors while working numerous jobs in oilfields and pharmacies to support their growing family as Regina earned her 1964 OU Bachelor of Science in education. Their two sons, Jamie (OU BBA 1983) and Brian (OU BBA 1986), were born while the Turrentines were completing their degrees. The Turrentines also have grandchildren who are OU graduates.

James earned his medical degree from the Kansas City College of Osteopathy and Surgery and completed his residency in Wellington, Kan., in 1973 before starting a family practice in Sulphur to support the local hospital. In 1975, he moved his practice to Ardmore, where he served until his retirement in 2018. James also delivered thousands of Oklahoma babies through the years. “It was exciting to watch his career grow,” Regina said. “He lived for medicine and his patients.”

James was honored with the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association’s Outstanding and Distinguished Service Award in 2010.

The Turrentines are active within their community. A retired teacher, Regina has served as a member of the Murray State College Board of Regents and was the founder and director of the Ardmore Beautification Council. Leadership Oklahoma recognized her with its Community Leadership Excellence Award in 2004.

Through the years, they have also contributed to the arts in Oklahoma, the Goddard Center in Ardmore and the Oklahoma State University Osteopathic Medical School, among many other causes.

James said their deep affection for education and fond memories of starting out at OU prompted them to create a scholarship. “We’ve been thinking about what we could do to give back to the university that gave us so much. We came to OU with nothing and worked hard. We’ve had a good life due to our education and guiding hands. We hope that for many more students.”