New Endowment Established in Memory of Dr. Augustus Turnbull III

Posted by Michael Walsh on

The College of Communication & Information has launched the Dr. Augustus Turnbull III Endowment for Intercollegiate Debate, a lasting tribute to one of Florida State University’s most respected leaders. Made possible through a generous gift from Mrs. Marjorie Turnbull, the endowment will strengthen FSU’s tradition of excellence in debate.

“Florida State University has just celebrated its 75th anniversary of Modern Debate, and the history of competitive debate at our institution dates back to the late 1890s. Our debate team this year is maintaining the record of excellence that is their hallmark,” said Dr. Michelle M. Kazmer, Dean of the College of Communication and Information. “I am delighted, grateful, and honored that Mrs. Turnbull has chosen to honor her husband, Dr. Augustus Turnbull III, by investing in the long-term future of debate at FSU, so that our debate students may flourish for another 125 years and more.”

Marjorie Turnbull’s support was inspired by her late husband, Dr. Augustus Turnbull III’s involvement with debate while he was a student at the University of Georgia. He was a student leader and served as captain of the debate team. It was his activity in debate that he often credited with providing a solid foundation for his later success in the academic world. He subsequently earned a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia and joined the faculty of Florida State University. He then served as vice-president for academic affairs and later as provost until his death in 1991. During his tenure as provost, he was a strong supporter of the FSU Intercollegiate Debate Team.

The award-winning FSU Speech and Debate Team has had a history of success. Most recently, the team qualified once again for the National Debate Tournament after winning both the open and junior varsity divisions at the Steve Hunt Classic in Portland, Oregon, in October 2025. Marjorie Turnbull’s gift will continue this legacy of achievement by providing a range of support for the debate team, including salary support for an assistant coach or a graduate assistant stipend, registration fees for national and international tournaments, travel expenses to national and international competitions, and other expenses directly related to program activities of the debate team.