“If a man is measured by the lives he touched–then surely Matt Turner’s reach spanned an entire state.”
Those were the first words spoken by KTHV‘s Lisa Hutson in a story about the memorial service for anchor Matt Turner. You can watch the video of the story after the jump.
Turner, who had been at the Little Rock CBS affiliate for a month, died in a crash on Arkansas’ I-30 over the weekend.
Matt’s friends and family gathered to remember the anchor at the church where his father was once pastor. Hutson spoke with the attendees about the impact Turner had on so many lives in such a short time.
“I don’t have a memory of this church without Matthew. I don’t. Matthew was the greatest role model. My son looked up to Matthew.” says Sheri Shepherd.
“If you looked at the scene here tonight, it’s unbelievable that a 32 year old man could mean at this point in his life to this many people and I think what it tells you is that everyone he met, he had a profound impact on,” says Bo Mattingly.
Brook Thomas, news director at Turner’s previous station, KNWA, also spoke of the promise he saw in the young anchor and the relationship they had developed over the years in a story posted to the KTHV website.
“When Matt told me he was headed to Little Rock for the job he always wanted – I was torn in two. Torn because I knew I would miss the man I had grown to love. And torn because I knew he was about to begin the best chapter in his life. Matt did everything he set out to do. And he did it all with such passion, style and grace that none will ever follow in his footsteps.”
Matt Turner’s funeral will be held today at the 3rd Street Baptist Church in Turner’s hometown of Arkadelphia.
Below is the story by Lisa Hutson: