Jim Turner to Rebrand McGregor Chevrolet Dealership
4/4/2017 12:00:00 AM | "B" Association
The "B" Association would like to congratulate basketball letterwinner, Jim Turner (1966-68), for his recent acquisition of John McClaren Chevrolet dealership in McGregor, Texas, near Waco. John McClaren, who previously owned the dealership for nearly 30 years, approached Turner about his possible interest in the dealership two years ago, when McClaren decided to retire. Turner struck a deal for ownership 24 months ago, but kept the McClaren name until March 24, 2017, when the business was officially renamed Jim Turner Chevrolet. Since the purchase, Turner has proceeded to double the size of the showroom, office and service complex to 40,000 square feet and to increase the lot area to nearly 12 acres.
Although Turner lives in Dallas, he has strong ties to Waco, having served in numerous leadership capacities in the Waco area, including service on the Baylor Board of Regents, and the Baylor "B" Association Board of Directors. He currently serves as chairman of Dean Foods, which has a distribution center in the Waco area, and as board chair of Baylor Scott & White Health. Turner is the principal stockholder and chairman of JLT Beverages, LP, with investments in automotive, banking, insurance, real estate, and soft drinks. He found success as the head of the Dr Pepper Bottling Company of Texas. With franchises in Waco, Dallas, and Houston, Turner helped elevate the company to be the largest independent soft drink bottler in America. He has won Beverage Industry magazine's Man of the Year award as well as Beverage World magazine's Hall of Fame award. After selling his interest in the Dr Pepper Company in 1999, his family searched for other ways to stay invested in the Greater Waco business community, which "led to the opportunity with John McClaren's outstanding dealership," Turner said.
Turner gained athletic notoriety at Baylor as an impact player on the men's freshman basketball team, averaging an extraordinary 47 points per game during the 1965 season. His athletic career is distinguished by an all-time single game scoring record of 63 points as a freshman, and he still ranks among the top 10 season scoring leaders for the Bears. He was inducted into the Baylor Athletic Hall of Fame in 1996 and the "B" Association's Wall of Honor in 2008.
Please join us in congratulating Jim Turner and wishing him the best in his latest business venture!
Sic 'em Jim!
