Ted Turner was an American original

American business and journalism icon Ted Turner passed away at the age of 87. He left this world on May 6 after a larger-than-life presence, leaving behind a rich legacy. A real trailblazer, one who left his imprint on many ventures, especially in the media, including Turner Network Television, CNN, the Cartoon Network and Turner Classic Movies, to name a few. His impact on this country and globally as a media mogul just cannot be ignored, and it will be lasting. This short remembrance shares a chance encounter, too. Not always popular for being too outspoken (nicknamed "The Mouth of the South"), Turner remained well-respected. He was as American as one could be, at least in the eyes of this writer, who arrived in this country more than 50 years ago. Turner excelled in business and philanthropy. There are not many individuals who have pledged a billion dollars or more to the United Nations, which he did in 1997. He also made a name for himself in the world of sports as a participant (winning yachting's America's Cup in 1977) and as an owner (his Atlanta Braves baseball team won the 1995 World Series). He liked to win and was not afraid of losing at anything he ventured out to accomplish. We baby boomers are from the generation which has viewed television via rabbit ears (sometimes wrapped in aluminum foil), rooftop antennas, cable, satellite access and now via fast internet. We can deeply appreciate some of Turner's many contributions here, especially in the evolution of broadcasting and shows which now travel with us for viewing on our smartphones. He pioneered 24-hour TV news, something which was scoffed at when it was proposed. Today, all major news networks broadcast round-the-clock news, and that offering is not restricted to America alone, it is global. Turner was not just a man of ideas but one who succeeded in implementing them. And he certainly possessed an entrepreneurial spirit. The news of Turner's passing reminded me of a conference which I attended in the early or mid-2000s. A group of South Asians formed an organization which they named The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) in the 1990s, which is still quite active and thriving today. TiE Silicon Valley continues to hold its annual conference, named TiEcon, and draws entrepreneurs from all over the globe seeking to sell their infant ideas and to seek start-up funding. It is a high-profile event in which some of the most successful people in the business world are invited to deliver keynote speeches to inspire those who are starting out. Being young and energetic in those days, I too attended TiEcon in Santa Clara numerous times to see and get a feel for how the technology business works and to write about it. It was during a TiEcon offshoot event that I had a chance encounter with Turner, who was a man in a hurry. I was near the back entrance of the venue in Santa Clara (near current Levi's Stadium) when a tall man accompanied by a striking lady came hurriedly toward me and asked where the restroom was. As I looked up, there stood Ted Turner. Since I had myself just used the "facilities" nearby, his was an easy question to answer and I guided him there quickly and he rushed in. The lady accompanying him waited outside with me and a couple of other people (if it had been Jane Fonda, I would have been totally floored, but they had split up by then). We waited till Ted came out looking quite relieved. And he not only acknowledged me again but thanked me. That was my one run-in with a billionaire, one who showed no arrogance and was polite. It is just too bad smartphones were not around in those days because I would have at least tried to get a selfie with him. I have shared this one short brush with potential fame over the years with family and friends. Turner's keynote speech at the event was memorable. He shared his experience of creating a company, merging with another, then losing control of it (and being shown the door), only to venture into something else and never giving up. His penchant for sharing his one-liner wisdom was quite impactful there, too. Turner remained a mover and shaker until being diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) in 2018. His legacy as a huge landowner and environmentalist will often be revisited, too. This includes efforts to save and reinvigorate American bison herds. Close to the end of his keynote at the event, his use of one line somehow remains in my memory banks and fits his personality quite well. He said it was better to be a has been than a never was. Ted Turner was an American original. May he rest in peace.