stead in discussing the problems that arose as the program progressed with the interested congressional committees and leaders and in resolving individual problems as they presented themselves.
Turner never lost his interest in and enthusiasm for the role of the United States in technical assistance in highways for foreign countries He was a member of the U.S. Delegation to the 5th Pan-American Highway Conference in Lima, Peru, in 1951, to the Extraordinary Session in Mexico City in 1952, and to the 6th Conference in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1954. He was the Chief of the U.S. Delegation at the 10th Pan-American Highway Congress in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1967, the 11th Pan-American Highway Congress in Quito, Ecuador, in 1971, and Chief of the U.S. Highway Exchange Delegation to the Soviet Union in 1961. His contributions and his leadership in the field of transportation were attested by silver and gold meritorious awards by the Department of Commerce in 1954 and 1956; by the Thomas H. MacDonald Award of the American Association of State Highway Officials in 1962; by the George S. Bartlett Award of the American Road Builders’ Association in 1965; by the Gold Medal Award for Outstanding Achievement from the Department of Transportation in 1970; by the Special Secretarial Medal and Award in 1972; by the Roy W. Cram Award of the Highway Research Board in 1969; by the Neil J. Curry Award for Leadership in Highway Transportation in 1970 of the Highway Users Federation; and by the James Laurie prize for leadership in highway transportation of the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1971. He received recognition from the Engineering News-Record as the Construction Man of the Year in 1967 and 1970 and the World Highway Man of the Year by the International Road Federation, presented by Emperor Haile Selassie in Addis Ababa in 1969. Of unusual interest is the fact that he was selected as a Distinguished Alumnus by two universities—Texas A & M University where he was graduated in 1929, and the University of Texas at Arlington where he took his first 2 years when it was a Junior College. In 1974, he was elected an Honorary Life Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
On February 27, 1967, his appointment as Director of Public Roads was confirmed by the United States Senate and he served in that capacity until February 24, 1969, when he was confirmed by unanimous consent by the Senate as Federal Highway Administrator. He served with distinction in this capacity until his retirement on June 30, 1972.
Frank Turner’s entire career was marked by his professional ability. his sincerity, integrity, modesty, charm and love of his fellow man. During the most pressing technical problems, he could and did take time out to concern himself with whether the wife of a member of his staff had enough doors in her newly assigned house to make her happy. His calmness under pressure was remarkable; no one ever saw him excited, flustered or angry. Although basically a serious man, he possesses a puckish wit, that springs forth when least expected. From a rather monotonous, hesitant public speaker in his younger days, he became an urbane, accomplished and witty after dinner speaker. His world has been centered around his family, his work, and his church. The American people owe an undying vote of gratitude to Francis Cutler Turner for his lifetime of dedicated public service, his strong unerring leadership, and his determination to obtain a dollar’s worth of road for every dollar of tax money spent.
