The renowned businessman will lead the board for the largest not-for-profit health system in Texas; and another distinguished Texan – Ross McKnight – becomes chair-elect.
Jim L. Turner will become chair of the Baylor Scott & White Holdings Board of Trustees on October 1, 2015, becoming the second-ever chair of the organization born from the 2013 merger of Dallas-based Baylor Health Care System and Temple-based Scott & White Health. Turner follows Drayton McLane, Jr., the company's first chair who is completing a two-year term in the role. Both McLane, Jr. and Turner were integral in orchestrating the deal that created Texas' largest not-for-profit health care system.
In a long history of servant leadership with the legacy Baylor Health Care System, Turner spent 14 years as a board member, including two years as the chair of the finance committee and 15 months as Baylor's board chair immediately preceding the merger's close.
"It is my privilege to now assume this role as chair and continue to help lead Baylor Scott & White Health during this time of tremendous change in the industry," said Turner. "Our vision is to become one of the top three health systems in the country, and my commitment is to help the organization achieve that goal while continuing to keep focus on our mission – serving communities throughout Texas."
With an acclaimed and distinguished career as a business leader, Turner is currently principal stockholder and chairman of JLT Beverages, LP – a diversified holding company with investments in the automotive industry, insurance, banking, real estate and beverages among others. He is also a minority owner of the Texas Rangers professional baseball team.
Turner's previous business – the Dr Pepper Bottling Company of Texas – was the largest single franchise bottler of Dr Pepper, and the largest independent soft drink bottler in the country. He is internationally known in the soft drink industry and has been recognized with the two most coveted beverage industry awards: Beverage Industry's Man of the Year award and Beverage World's Hall of Fame Award. He was also given the Horatio Alger Award in 1998 for exemplifying dedication, purpose and perseverance in his personal and professional life.
Turner was a decorated student-athlete at Baylor University where he received his B.B.A degree. A letter winner on the basketball team, he earned both ALL-SWC honors and ALL-SWC Academic team honors, and he also set an all-time single game scoring record of 63 points in a game as a freshman. He has since been inducted into the Baylor Sports Hall of Fame, bestowed the highest honor given by the Baylor "B" Association by being inducted into the Wall of Honor in 2008, and he has been recognized several other times by BU with awards including the W. R. White Meritorious Service Award and the Baylor Meritorious Achievement's Legacy Award. He is also the past chairman of the board of regents for the university.
Turner and his wife Julie, also a BU alum, currently reside in Dallas where they are both involved in many diverse community and charitable causes. In addition to his work on the Baylor Scott & White board, he serves on a number of other boards including Dean Foods – the largest U.S. dairy company – where he was recently named Chairman; Crown Holdings – an international packaging company; Davaco, which handles resets and remodels for restaurants, retail and hotels in the U.S. and Canada; and Comstock Resources – an oil and gas producer.
Ross McKnight to Become Chair-Elect
Ross McKnight, also appointed to the first-ever Baylor Scott & White Holdings Board of Trustees in 2013, has now been named chair-elect of the board effective October 1, 2015. McKnight is the current vice chair of the finance and investment committee. He served on the legacy Scott & White Health Board of Trustees for 11 years prior to the merger, was past chair of the investment committee, and past chair of the board of the Scott & White Foundation.
McKnight is a distinguished and recognized banker, rancher, oilman and philanthropist. He is CEO of RoMac Gas Company – a natural gas gathering system, and RoMac Oil Company – an oil and gas exploration and production company. He is also chairman of the board and the majority shareholder of Olney Bancshares of Texas, which owns InterBank, a $2.9 billion bank serving Texas and Oklahoma.
In addition to growing his ranching and agricultural enterprise, McKnight spent 33 years as the president of Throckmorton County Farm Bureau and served on the Throckmorton County Hospital Board as chairman of the county's appraisal district for more than 20 years.
McKnight has been bestowed numerous honors by his alma mater – Oklahoma State University – where he earned his B.S. degree in Animal Science. He received the OSU Alumni Association Distinguished Alumni Award, was selected the Graduate of Distinction by the OSU Department of Animal Science, was selected the OSU Foundation's first and only honorary trustee, and was inducted into the OSU Alumni Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2010, he co-chaired, with his wife Billie, a successful $1 billion fundraising campaign for the university and established and endowed the $10 million McKnight Scholarship Program there.
The McKnights currently reside in Throckmorton, Texas, where he was born and reared.
About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White is empowering customers to live well by reimagining traditional healthcare — creating more convenient, personalized and informed experiences. It serves more than three million customers through 55 hospitals, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple; the Baylor Scott & White Research Institute; 1,300+ access points; 59,000+ team members; and its leading digital platform — MyBSWHealth. The system's award-winning employer solutions include Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and Levanto — a company offering digitally enabled health products. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White's mission is to promote the health and well-being of all individuals, families and communities. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com