Julie and John Billmaier, family and friends of Roy Turner

This scholarship was originally established in 2004 as the Roy Turner Scholarship by Julie Billmaier in memory of her father. With the generous donations from Julie and her husband, John, and with the help of family members and friends the Roy Turner Scholarship became endowed in 2011. Mr. Turner was a firefighter with the City of Monroe Fire Department for 28 years until his retirement in 1991. He was also a self-employed bricklayer since 1949 and was still active until his death in 1995.

Mr. Turner graduated from Monroe High School where he exceled in sports. Mr. Turner was drafted for the Detroit Tigers’ Farm Club right out of high school, but, instead Mr. Turner chose to serve his country and enlisted in the Army. During his service, he was stationed in France and while there he built Quonset huts for the arriving troops Also, while in the service he played baseball for the Army League.

Besides his role as a firefighter and bricklayer, Roy was a devoted family man. Roy was married to Bobbie Ruth Turner and they had four children. Two of his children were first generation graduates from Monroe County Community College and went on to obtain their Bachelor’s Degree. His daughter, Julie Billmaier stated that she felt her father would be proud to be helping fellow fire fighters or their dependents.

In 2013, Bobbie Ruth Turner passed away and the family decided to change the name of the scholarship to the Roy and Bobbie Turner Memorial Scholarship. She had previously worked for Ford Motor Company, Lizbeth Shop in Monroe and started her own business, Bobbie’s Antiques which dealt in Depression Glass, Collectable Glass and Linens. Bobbie traveled to several different states doing antique shows until her retirement in 2000. Her daughter, Donna Novak stated that her mother would be very happy and honored to have her name on this scholarship. Her mother participated in numerous fund raisers at MCCC working to get the original scholarship endowed.