A 1984 EHS graduate, Turk was a two-sport athlete for Bobcats as he played football and baseball.
“I was a junior linebacker our championship season,” Turk said. “We started off 1-3 and it wasn’t looking too good. But every week it seemed like we would get better and better.
“We had the worst record of all the teams heading into the Superdome,” he remembered. “Jennings went to win a state championship – we went to beat Jennings. It just so happened we won a state championship while doing that.”
He was named 1st team all district Linebacker in 1981, 1982, and 1983. He was the 1983 District Defensive MVP and was awarded the 3A All State Linebacker in 1982 and 1983.
Turk said he was a natural wearing the football pads, but baseball was a sport he had to continually work at developing his skills.
He played outfield as a sophomore and then moved to catcher for head coach Clarence Merricks.
Joe earned the following accolades during his time as a Bobcat baseball player- 1982 All District Honorable mention, 1983 Outstanding Defensive player of the year, 1983 and 1984 1st team All District Catcher and the 1983 EHS Outstanding Undergraduate Athlete.
“I credit him for my college career,” Turk said. “He was a great fundamentals coach and he helped me become a good catcher.
“I got offers for baseball scholarships including McNeese and USL,” he said. “I chose to go to LSU and then after my freshman year I moved to Central Arizona Community College for my sophomore season.”
Turk said then USL signed him and he played his last two years for the Ragin’ Cajuns under head coaches Gene Shell, Emrick Jagneaux and Mike Boulanger.
“My senior year at USL was coach Boulanger’s first year and we did some great things,” Turk said. “We won the conference title and had the most wins in a single season and advanced to the NCAA regionals in Stillwater, Oklahoma.”
The son of Carl and Elaine Turk, Joe said he followed in his father’s footsteps to become a chiropractor. His son Edward and brother Robert are also chiropractors.
Joe and wife Edie have five children Edward (Natalie), Pamela (Stuart), Stephanie (Cade), Alison and William. They also have two grandchildren – Turk Paul Schexnayder and Joseph Edward Turk III.