Co-Lin to Honor Cagle, Turnage as Alumni of the Year at Homecoming

James V. (Jim) Cagle of Carson and Dr. Casey Carlton Turnage of Brandon will be honored as Alumni of the Year at Co-Lin’s Homecoming on Saturday, Oct. 28 during the Alumni Association’s awards luncheon and annual meeting at 11:00 in the cafeteria on the college’s Wesson campus.

Cagle is a 1956 graduate of Co-Lin Agricultural High School where he received a scholarship to play in the college marching band and orchestra as a high school sophomore. He attended Mississippi State University and Mississippi College, and received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Troy State University and a master’s degree in counseling from Liberty University. He served in the United States Army from 1958-1964 as a pilot flight instructor and was discharged with the rank of captain, and was a pilot for Delta Airlines for 31 years, serving as captain for 20 years.

He received the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), was honored in 2003 by the National Association of Flight Instructors for completing 39 years as a FAA Certified Flight Instructor, and received the Civil Air Patrol Achievement Award in 2010. He is a past president of Columbia Lions Club, a charter member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, and founded teen ministries, “Teens Inc.,” and “Harvest Ministries.” He is an ordained elder of First Presbyterian Church.

Cagle has been active in the Co-Lin Alumni Association for many years, and is a co-chair of the James Lewis Scholarship Fund, which has raised over $56,000 for the scholarship. He is married to his Co-Lin sweetheart, Ann B. Cagle (’56 Co-Lin High School, ’58 College grad), and they have three sons, Jim, William, and Christopher, and 10 grandchildren.                               

Turnage is a 1992 graduate of Co-Lin where she was a cheerleader her first year and a Colette her second year. After receiving an Associate of Arts degree, she received bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi.  Turnage spent the first 17 years of her professional career in various administrative roles at the University of Southern Mississippi, including associate registrar and NCATE director for teacher education programs. 

 For the past five years, Dr. Turnage has worked at the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning, the governing board for Mississippi's eight public universities.  In her role as director of policy and strategic initiatives, she works closely with K-12, community colleges, and universities to support a seamless kindergarten through college educational system. 

Turnage is a strong advocate for Mississippi's community college system and transfer students, overseeing the statewide articulation agreement between the community colleges and universities. Turnage also worked with university and community college registrars to implement a reverse transfer process, and is currently overseeing the Complete 2 Compete initiative, a statewide university and community college campaign aimed at helping adults return to college to finish the degrees they began. 

Turnage is also the associate executive director for the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion where she assists with the credentialing and recertification processes at the national office.  She is a member of St. Paul Catholic Church in Flowood.  She has two children, Clayton and Audrey.

Sports Hall of Fame members, Band and Colette Alumni Chapter honorees, and outstanding staff and instructors will also be recognized at the Homecoming luncheon. Tickets are $15 and may be purchased ahead of time at the Alumni Office, at morning registration in Rea Auditorium, or at the cafeteria prior to the luncheon. For more information on Homecoming events and activities, visit www.colin.edu/alumni-foundation/alumni-association/homecoming/