This eMail came today from the McCallie School Headmaster:



Dear McCallie Community,

Today, I write to you with both sadness and pride as we celebrate the life of one of McCallie's most extraordinary sons, Ted Turner, Class of 1956, who passed away today on May 6, 2026.

As many of you know, Ted's journey from our campus on Missionary Ridge to global prominence exemplifies the very best of what a McCallie education can inspire. His ground breaking founding of CNN didn't just create a business; it also established a new standard for journalism. It transformed how the world communicates and stays informed. His leadership and innovation with Turner Sports, and his ownership of the Atlanta Braves and the Atlanta Hawks, revolutionized the synergy and merger of media and athletics, as did his vision for broadcasting and entertainment. His environmental stewardship across more than two million acres out west exemplifies his forward-thinking ecological stewardship.

What moves me most about Ted's story is how clearly we can trace the values we cherish at McCallie throughout his remarkable career. His historic 1994 gift of $25 million to McCallie reflected the value he placed on his education here, with the next two generations of his family following in his footsteps here as McCallie alumni. His billion-dollar commitment to the United Nations and his pioneering work in bison conservation exemplify his service to others, which has always been a hallmark of the McCallie experience.

From CNN's newsrooms to Montana's plains, from corporate boardrooms to conservation efforts that will benefit generations, Ted Turner has shown the world what is possible when McCallie character meets unlimited vision and courageous leadership. He has made us all proud to call ourselves McCallie men.