Dr. I. C. Turnley, Jr.
Turnley achieved his dream of returning to practice medicine in his hometown Jena in 1958 after opening his first medical office in Winnfield, a year earlier. That road to medicine began as World War II was in its wane. Turnley was commissioned in the U.S. Navy in January 1945 and served two years at the San Diego Naval Hospital, continuing in the reserve until 1951. His Jena office would have five exam rooms, lab and x-ray and served him until retirement December 2015, just prior to his 89th birthday. He served as LaSalle Parish coroner for 60 years, the longest-serving elected public official in Louisiana. For much of that time, his only compensation was$10 per call. He was active in business affairs in the community and in 1995 became the Grand Master of Freemasons for the state of Louisiana.